Image processing apparatus, image processing method, program, and image pickup system

ABSTRACT

An image pickup apparatus, image processing apparatus and corresponding program and method are disclosed. In one example, a second captured image acquired from another apparatus is aligned with a first captured image. Image stabilization is carried out in response to a positional relation between the captured images. For example, when overlapping between the captured images is equal to or smaller than an image stabilization limitation threshold value, the image stabilization is stopped or a correction range is limited for at least one of the captured images. When the amount of overlapping is larger than the image stabilization limitation threshold value, the image stabilization for both of the captured images is carried out without limitation. The captured images are aligned with each other by using the captured image with limited image stabilization, or both captured images where stabilization is carried out without limitation, thereby producing a panoramic image.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This technique relates to an image processing apparatus, an imageprocessing method, a program, and an image pickup system, and enables apanoramic image to be readily produced.

BACKGROUND ART

Heretofore, in an image pickup apparatus having a plurality of imagepickup portions, for example, in an image pickup apparatus of PTL 1,images for output have been segmented from a plurality of images in acommon segmentation size with an initial optical axis center beforeimage stabilization in a plurality of image pickup portions as areference. In addition, a binocular vision can be obtained by an imagefor output in which an optical axis center position is held prior to andafter the image stabilization.

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

[PTL 1]

WO2011/114572

SUMMARY Technical Problem

Incidentally, when an image is produced in a plurality of image pickupportions, not limited to a binocular vision, for example, a panoramicimage having a wide angle of view can be produced by connecting aplurality of images to one another. However, when images for outputwhich are segmented from a plurality of images in a common segmentationsize are intended to be connected to one another with an initial opticalaxis center as a reference, it is necessary to install precisely aplurality of image pickup apparatuses in a horizontal direction withhigh accuracy in such a way that the initial optical axis center isprevented from being dispersed in a vertical direction. For this reason,a panoramic image is not readily produced.

Accordingly, an object of this technique is to provide an imageprocessing apparatus, an image processing method, a program, and animage pickup system each of which is capable of readily producing imagesused in production of a panoramic image.

Solution to Problem

A first aspect of this technique lies in

an image processing apparatus including a control portion configured tocarry out control about image stabilization for at least one of a firstcaptured image and a second captured image, which are used in productionof a panoramic image, in response to a positional relation between thefirst captured image and the second captured image.

With this technique, when the first captured image and the secondcaptured image aligned with the first captured image are synthesized toproduce the panoramic image, the control about the image stabilizationfor at least one of the first captured image and the second capturedimage which are used in the synthesis is carried out in response to thepositional relation between the first captured image and the secondcaptured image, for example, the image stabilization is controlled inresponse to the positional relation. In a limitation of the imagestabilization, there are carried out an operation for ON/OFF of theimage stabilization, and an operation in which an image production areaprovided within a valid pixel area of an image sensor used in productionof images to be synthesized is increased as an amount of overlappingbecomes smaller, and a surplus area as a difference between the validpixel area and the image production area is reduced to limit the imagestabilization. In addition, in the control about the imagestabilization, a notification about ON/OFF and the limitation of theimage stabilization is made in the form of image or voice for a user.

In addition, when the amount of overlapping is equal to or smaller thana processing order setting threshold value, the control portion carriesout the image stabilization after carrying out the position alignmentbetween the first captured image and the second captured image. When theamount of overlapping is larger than the processing order settingthreshold value, the control portion carries out the position alignmentbetween the first captured image and the second captured image aftercarrying out the image stabilization. A panoramic image producingportion synthesizes images of the image production areas in the firstcaptured image and the second captured image after the imagestabilization and the position alignment. Moreover, the control portioncarries out the position alignment between the first captured image andthe second captured image in response to a degree of a change inpositional relation between an image pickup portion which produces thefirst captured image and an image pickup portion which produces thesecond captured image. Thus, the control portion shortens either anobservation time period or an observation interval as the degree of thechange becomes larger, and lengthens either the observation time periodor the observation interval as the degree of the change becomes smaller.In addition, the control portion controls a frequency of the positionalignment in response to a result of detection of mounting states of afirst image pickup portion for producing the first captured image and asecond image pickup portion for producing the second captured image. Inaddition, the panoramic image producing portion carries out thesynthesis by adjusting an image quality difference between an imageproduction area of the first captured image and an image production areaof the second captured image. In addition, the panoramic image producingportion synthesizes the image production area of the first capturedimage in which a lens distortion is corrected, and the image productionarea of the second captured image in which a lens distortion iscorrected. Moreover, the panoramic image producing portion carries outangle-of-view equalization between the first captured image and thesecond captured image, and synthesizes the first captured image and thesecond captured image after the angle-of-view equalization.

A second aspect of this technique lies in

an image processing method including, in a control portion, carrying outcontrol about image stabilization for at least one of a first capturedimage and a second captured image, which are used in production of apanoramic image, in response to a positional relation between the firstcaptured image and the second captured image.

A third aspect of this technique lies in

a program for causing a computer to execute a procedure for carrying outcontrol about image stabilization for at least one of a first capturedimage and a second captured image, which are used in production of apanoramic image, in response to a positional relation between the firstcaptured image and the second captured image.

Incidentally, the program of the present technique is a program whichcan be provided for a general-purpose computer which can execute variousprogram codes by a storage medium, a communication medium, for example,a storage medium such as an optical disc, a magnetic disc or asemiconductor memory, or a communication medium such as a network. Inthis case, the storage medium provides a program in the computerreadable form. Such a program is provided in the computer readable form,thereby realizing the processing corresponding to the program on thecomputer.

A fourth aspect of the present technique lies in

an image pickup system including:

a first image pickup portion configured to produce a first capturedimage to be used in production of a panoramic image;

a second image pickup portion configured to produce a second capturedimage to be used in production of the panoramic image; and

a control portion configured to carry out control about imagestabilization for at least one of the first captured image and thesecond captured image in response to a positional relation between thefirst captured image and the second captured image.

Advantageous Effect of Invention

According to this technique, the control about the image stabilizationfor at least one of the first captured image and the second capturedimage, which are used in production of a panoramic image, is carried outin response to the positional relation between the first captured imageand the second captured image. For this reason, by the control about theimage stabilization responding to the positional relation between thefirst captured image and the second captured image, areas in which thecaptured images of the same object overlap each other can be ensured inthe first captured image and the second captured image. Thus, the imagesused in the production of the panoramic image can be readily produced.It should be noted that the effect described in this description ismerely an exemplification, and is by no means limited and additionaleffects may also be offered.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram depicting a configuration of an image pickupsystem.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram exemplifying a configuration of an imagepickup apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram exemplifying a configuration of an informationprocessing apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a view explaining a first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a view explaining overlapping and image stabilization forcaptured images.

FIG. 6 is a view explaining a position adjustment vector.

FIG. 7 is a diagram exemplifying the case where an amount of imagestabilization is limited in response to an amount of overlapping.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart depicting an operation of the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart depicting other operation of the firstembodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram exemplifying the case where notification is madefor a user by using display.

FIG. 11 is a view explaining an operation in the case where an amount ofoverlapping between captured images is small.

FIG. 12 is a view explaining an operation in the case where an amount ofoverlapping between captured images is large.

FIG. 13 is a flow chart depicting an operation of a second embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a view exemplifying an operation in the case where five imagepickup apparatuses are used.

FIG. 15 is a view explaining an operation for controlling frequency ofposition alignment in a space direction in response to a degree of achange in positional relation.

FIG. 16 is a view explaining position alignment in a time direction.

FIG. 17 is a view explaining position alignment in a time directionabout a frame for which no position alignment in a space direction iscarried out.

FIG. 18 is a view exemplifying an operation in the case where positionalignment in a space direction is carried out every frame.

FIG. 19 is a view exemplifying an operation in the case where positionalignment in the space direction is carried out at intervals of aplurality of frames.

FIG. 20 is a flow chart depicting an operation of a third embodiment.

FIG. 21 is a view depicting an operation for calculating a degree of achange in positional relation.

FIG. 22 is a flow chart depicting other operation of the thirdembodiment.

FIG. 23 is a view explaining a relation between magnitude of shake, andimage quality of an image used in production of a panoramic image.

FIG. 24 is a flow chart depicting an operation of a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 25 is a flow chart depicting an operation in the case where imagepickup apparatuses different in angle of view from each other are used.

FIG. 26 is a view exemplifying the case where a plurality of imagepickup apparatuses are fixed to a rig (mount).

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, modes for carrying out the present technique will bedescribed. It should be noted that the description will be given in thefollowing order.

1. Configuration of image pickup system

2. Configurations of image pickup apparatus and information processingapparatus

-   -   2-1. Configuration of image pickup apparatus    -   2-2. Configuration of information processing apparatus

3. First embodiment

-   -   3-1. Operation of first embodiment    -   3-2. Other operation of first embodiment

4. Second embodiment

-   -   4-1. Operation of second embodiment    -   4-2. Other operation of second embodiment

5. Third embodiment

-   -   5-1. Operation of third embodiment    -   5-2. Other operation of third embodiment

6. Fourth embodiment

-   -   6-1. Operation of fourth embodiment

7. Other embodiments

1. Configuration of Image Pickup System

FIG. 1 depicts a configuration of an image pickup system using an imageprocessing apparatus of the present technique, and the image pickupsystem produces a panoramic image by using a plurality of capturedimages.

The image pickup system, as depicted in (a) of FIG. 1, has an imagepickup function of producing a captured image, an image stabilizationfunction of producing a captured image for which shake is corrected, anda panoramic image producing function of producing a panoramic image froma plurality of captured images after the image stabilization. The imagepickup function is provided in each of a plurality of image pickupportions. In addition, the image stabilization function may be providedin each of a plurality of image pickup portions, or may be provided inan image pickup apparatus having a predetermined image pickup portion oran electronic apparatus provided separately from each of the imagepickup portions, for example, an information processing apparatus or thelike. In addition, the panoramic image producing function either may beprovided in an image pickup apparatus having a predetermined imagepickup portion, or may be provided in an information processingapparatus or the like which is provided separately from each of theimage pickup portions. In the production of the panoramic image, eithera moving image or a still image is produced.

(b) and (c) of FIG. 1 exemplify the case where an image pickup system 10is configured by, for example, using two image pickup apparatuses 20-1and 20-2. The image pickup apparatus 20-1 in (b) of FIG. 1 has either animage pickup function, or an image pickup function and an imagestabilization function, and outputs either a captured image or acaptured image for which the image stabilization is carried out to theimage pickup apparatus 20-2. Incidentally, when the image stabilizationfunction is not provided in the image pickup apparatus 20-1, the imagepickup apparatus 20-1 outputs the shake information indicating shakestate (such as a motion vector or a movement matrix, for example) to theimage pickup apparatus 20-2.

The image pickup apparatus 20-2 has an image pickup function, an imagestabilization function and a panoramic image producing function. Theimage pickup apparatus 20-2 produces a captured image for which theimage stabilization is carried out. In addition, when the captured imagesupplied from the image pickup apparatus 20-1 is yet to beimage-stabilized, the image pickup apparatus 20-2 carries out the imagestabilization for the captured image supplied thereto from the imagepickup apparatus 20-1 on the basis of the shake information from theimage pickup apparatus 20-1. Moreover, the image pickup apparatus 20-2produces a panoramic image by using the respective captured imagesproduced in the image pickup apparatus 20-1 and the image pickupapparatus 20-2.

An image pickup apparatus 20-3 in (c) of FIG. 1 has either the imagepickup function, or the image pickup function and the imagestabilization function, and outputs either a captured image or acaptured image for which the image stabilization is carried out to animage pickup apparatus 20-4 and an information processing apparatus.Incidentally, if the image stabilization function is not provided in theimage pickup apparatus 20-3, the image pickup apparatus 20-3 outputs theshake information indicating the shake state together with the capturedimage to the image pickup apparatus 20-4 and the information processingapparatus.

The image pickup apparatus 20-4 has the image pickup function, or theimage pickup function, the image stabilization function and a partialfunction in the panoramic image producing function. The image pickupapparatus 20-4 outputs either a captured image or a captured image forwhich the image stabilization is carried out to the informationprocessing apparatus. In addition, when the captured image supplied fromthe image pickup apparatus 20-3 is yet to be image-stabilized, the imagepickup apparatus 20-4 may carry out the image stabilization on the basisof the shake information sent thereto from the image pickup apparatus20-3. Moreover, the image pickup apparatus 20-4 produces the panoramicinformation on the basis of both the captured image produced, and thecaptured image supplied thereto from the image pickup apparatus 20-3,thereby outputting the resulting panoramic information to theinformation processing apparatus. The panoramic information isinformation with which one captured image is moved with respect to theother captured image in such a way that a position of an object can bealigned and, for example, is a motion vector, a movement matrix or thelike.

When the image pickup system is configured in such a way, theinformation processing apparatus connects the captured images suppliedthereto from the image pickup apparatuses 20-3 and 20-4 to each other onthe basis of the panoramic information supplied thereto from the imagepickup apparatus 20-4 to produce the panoramic image.

(d) of FIG. 1 exemplifies the case where the image pickup system 10 isconfigured by, for example, using two image pickup apparatuses 20-5 and20-6 and an information processing apparatus 50-1, and the informationprocessing apparatus 50-1 controls the operations of the image pickupapparatuses 20-5 and 20-6. The image pickup apparatus 20-5 has eitherthe image pickup function, or the image pickup function and the imagestabilization function. The image pickup apparatus 20-5 produces eithera captured image, or a captured image for which the image stabilizationis carried out on the basis of a control signal sent thereto from theinformation processing apparatus 50-1, and outputs the resultingcaptured image to the information processing apparatus 50-1. It shouldbe noted that when the image stabilization function is not provided inthe image pickup apparatus 20-5, the image pickup apparatus 20-5 outputsshake information indicating the shake state of the image pickupapparatus 20-5 to the information processing apparatus 50-1.

The image pickup apparatus 20-6 has either the image pickup function, orthe image pickup function and the image stabilization function. Theimage pickup apparatus 20-6 produces either a captured image, or acaptured image for which the image stabilization is carried out on thebasis of a control signal sent thereto from the information processingapparatus 50-1, and outputs the resulting captured image to theinformation processing apparatus 50-1. It should be noted that when theimage stabilization function is not provided in the image pickupapparatus 20-6, the image pickup apparatus 20-6 outputs shakeinformation indicating the shake state of the image pickup apparatus20-6 to the information processing apparatus 50-1.

The information processing apparatus 50-1 acquires either the capturedimage or the captured image for which the image stabilization is carriedout from the image pickup apparatuses 20-5 and 20-6 by controlling theimage pickup apparatuses 20-5 and 20-6. In addition, when the capturedimage acquired from the image pickup apparatus 20-5 (20-6) is yet to beimage-stabilized, the information processing apparatus 50-1 carries outthe image stabilization on the basis of the shake information acquiredfrom the image pickup apparatus 20-5 (20-6). Moreover, the informationprocessing apparatus 50-1 produces the panoramic image by using eitherthe captured image acquired or the captured image, thus acquired, afterthe image stabilization.

(e) of FIG. 1 exemplifies the case where the image pickup system 10 isconfigured by, for example, using two image pickup apparatuses 20-7 and20-8, and an information processing apparatus 50-2, and the informationprocessing apparatus 50-2 controls the operations of the image pickupapparatuses 20-7 and 20-8. The image pickup apparatus 20-7 has eitherthe image pickup function, or the image pickup function and the imagestabilization function. The image pickup apparatus 20-7 produces eithera captured image, or a captured image for which the image stabilizationis carried out on the basis of a control signal sent thereto from theinformation processing apparatus 50-2, and outputs the resultingcaptured image to the image pickup apparatus 20-8 and the informationprocessing apparatus 50-2. It should be noted that when the imagestabilization function is not provided in the image pickup apparatus20-7, the image pickup apparatus 20-7 outputs shake informationindicating the shake state of the image pickup apparatus 20-5 to theimage pickup apparatus 20-8 and the information processing apparatus50-2.

The image pickup apparatus 20-8 has the image pickup function, or theimage pickup function, the image stabilization function, and a partialfunction in the panoramic image producing function. The image pickupapparatus 20-8 produces either a captured image or a captured image forwhich the image stabilization is carried out on the basis of a controlsignal sent thereto from the information processing apparatus 50-2, andoutputs the resulting captured image to the information processingapparatus 50-2. In addition, when the captured image supplied from theimage pickup apparatus 20-7 is yet to be image-stabilized, the imagepickup apparatus 20-8 may carry out the image stabilization on the basisof the shake information supplied thereto from the image pickupapparatus 20-7. Moreover, the image pickup apparatus 20-8 produces thepanoramic information on the basis of the captured image produced andthe captured image supplied thereto from the image pickup apparatus20-3, and outputs the resulting panoramic information to the informationprocessing apparatus 50-2. Incidentally, when the image stabilizationfunction is not provided in the image pickup apparatus 20-8, the imagepickup apparatus 20-8 outputs the shake information indicating the shakestate thereof together with the captured image to the informationprocessing apparatus 50-2.

The information processing apparatus 50-2 acquires either the capturedimage or the captured image for which the image stabilization is carriedout from the image pickup apparatuses 20-7 and 20-8 by controlling theimage pickup apparatuses 20-7 and 20-8. In addition, when the capturedimage acquired from the image pickup apparatus 20-7 (20-8) is yet to beimage-stabilized, the information processing apparatus 50-2 carries outthe image stabilization on the basis of the shake information acquiredfrom the image pickup apparatus 20-7 (20-8). Moreover, the informationprocessing apparatus 50-2 connects the captured images to each other onthe basis of the panoramic information acquired from the image pickupapparatus 20-8 to produce the panoramic image.

Moreover, the image pickup system 10, as depicted in (f) of FIG. 1, mayrecord the captured image, the image stabilization information, and thelike in a recording medium 30, and may produce the panoramic image onthe basis of the captured image, the image stabilization information,and the like recorded in the recording medium 30.

Incidentally, the configuration of the image pickup system 10 is by nomeans limited to the configuration described above as long as theconfiguration has the image pickup function, the image stabilizationfunction, and the panoramic image producing function. In addition,although in the configuration described above, the case where two imagepickup apparatuses are used is exemplified, the image pickup system maybe configured by using three or more image pickup apparatuses.

2. Configurations of Image Pickup Apparatus and Information ProcessingApparatus 2-1. Configuration of Image Pickup Apparatus

Next, a configuration of an image pickup apparatus will be describedwith reference to FIG. 2. An image pickup apparatus 20, for example, isprovided with a lens unit 200, a drive portion 201, an image sensorportion 202, an AFE (Analog Front End) portion 203, an image processingportion 204, a display portion 205, a voice input/output portion 206, acommunication portion 207, a recording medium processing portion 208,and a bus 209. In addition, the image pickup apparatus 20 is providedwith a sensor portion 211, a user interface portion 212, and a controlportion 220.

The lens unit 200 is configured by using a focus lens, a zoom lens, andthe like, and condenses light made incident thereto from the outside ofthe image pickup apparatus 20 on the image sensor portion 202 to form anobject optical image on an image capturing surface of the image sensorportion 202. The drive portion 201 drives the lenses provided in thelens unit 200 on the basis of a control signal sent thereto from thecontrol portion 220 which will be described later, thereby carrying outfocus adjustment and zoom adjustment. In addition, when the image pickupapparatus 20 is to carry out optical image stabilization, for example,image stabilization complying with a lens shift system as the imagestabilization, the lens unit 200 is provided with an image stabilizationlens. The image pickup apparatus 20 causes the drive portion 201 todrive the image stabilization lens in response to the shake, therebycarrying out the image stabilization. In addition, when the image pickupapparatus 20 is to carry out image stabilization complying with a lensunit swing system (a so-called space optical image stabilization) asoptical image stabilization, the image pickup apparatus 20 causes thedrive portion 201 to drive the lens unit 200 and the image sensorportion 202, as a unit, in a pitch direction, in a yaw direction or thelike with respect to the main body of the image pickup apparatus 20 inresponse to the shake, thereby carrying out the image stabilization.Moreover, when the image pickup apparatus 20 is to carry out imagestabilization complying with an image sensor shift system as the opticalimage stabilization, the image pickup apparatus 20 causes the driveportion 201 to drive the image sensor portion 202 which will bedescribed later in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis of thelens unit 200 in response to the shake, thereby carrying out the imagestabilization.

The image sensor portion 202, for example, is configured by using a CMOS(Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) image sensor or a CCD (ChargeCoupled Device) image sensor. The image sensor portion 202 carries outphotoelectric conversion to produce a captured image signalcorresponding to the object optical image and outputs the resultingcaptured image signal to the AFE portion 203. In addition, when theimage pickup apparatus 20 carries out electronic image stabilization asthe image stabilization, the image pickup apparatus 20 moves an imageproduction area as a pixel area from which the image is to be actuallyextracted within a valid pixel area of the image sensor in response tothe shake, thereby carrying out the image stabilization. It should benoted that the electronic image stabilization may also be carried out inthe image processing portion 204.

The AFE (Analog Front End) portion 203 executes processing forconverting the captured image signal supplied thereto from the imagesensor portion 202 into a digital signal, noise removing processing,processing for correcting a defective pixel, or the like, and outputsthe captured image signal after the processing to the image processingportion 204.

The image processing portion 204 executes camera signal processing forthe captured image signal in such a way that the captured image hasexcellent image quality. In addition, the image processing portion 204executes various kinds of processing for the captured image in responseto the function of the image pickup apparatus in the image pickup system10. For example, the image processing portion 204 executes the pieces ofprocessing such as electronic image stabilization, positional alignmentin a space direction between the captured images to be connected to eachother as will be described later, calculation of an amount of shake,calculation of an amount of overlapping, calculation of an image qualitydifference, image quality adjustment, calibration, lens distortioncorrection, projection conversion, angle-of-view equalization, andproduction of a panoramic image in response to the function of the imagepickup apparatus in the image pickup system 10.

The display portion 205 displays thereon various kinds of information,for example, the captured image or the like. The voice input/outputportion 206 carries out acquisition of a voice at the time of imagecapturing, reproduction of the acquired voice, output of a message inthe form of voice to the user, and the like.

The communication portion 207, for example, is configured by Wifi, NFCor the like, and makes a communication with other apparatus, forexample, other image pickup apparatus, other information processingapparatus or the like. It should be noted that the communication portion207, not limited to the wireless communication, may also have aconfiguration in which the communication portion 207 makes acommunication with other apparatus through a communication cable.

The recording medium processing portion 208 executes either processingfor recording the captured image in a recording medium, or processingfor reading out the captured image recorded in the recording medium. Itshould be noted that the recording medium either may be fixed to theimage pickup apparatus 20 or may be detachable.

The bus 209 electrically connects the portions described above to thecontrol portion 220 which will be described later.

The sensor portion 211 is provided with various kinds of sensors in sucha way that a state or the like of the image pickup apparatus 20 can bedetected. For example, the sensor portion 211 is provided with anacceleration sensor, a gyro sensor and the like, and thus detects theshake of the image pickup apparatus. In addition, the sensor portion 211may also be provided with a distance measuring sensor, a positiondetecting sensor (for example, a GPS sensor), and the like. The sensorportion 211 outputs the produced sensor information to the controlportion 220.

The user interface (I/F) portion 212 produces a manipulation signalresponding to a user manipulation or the like, and outputs the resultingmanipulation signal to the control portion 220.

The control portion 220 controls the portions in such a way that anoperation in a mode responding to the user manipulation or an operationin a mode instructed from an external apparatus is carried out in theimage pickup apparatus 20 on the basis of the manipulation signalsupplied from the user interface portion 212 or a communication signalsupplied from the external apparatus through the communication portion.In addition, the control portion 220 carries out the control on thebasis of the sensor information supplied thereto from the sensor portion211. For example, the control portion 220 controls either the driveportion 201 or the image processing portion 204 in response to theshake, of the image pickup apparatus 20, detected by the sensor portion211, thereby carrying out the image stabilization. Moreover, the controlportion 220 carries out control for the processing executed in the imageprocessing portion 204, control for the order of the processing piecesof the image stabilization and the position alignment in the spacedirection as will be described later, control for an observation timeperiod or an observation interval of the degree of a change inpositional relation between the image pickup apparatuses, parameteradjustment, communication of data such as the control information or thecaptured image with other image pickup apparatus, and synchronizationprocessing, management or the like of other image pickup apparatus.

It should be noted that the image pickup apparatus 20 is by no meanslimited to the camera, and it is only necessary that the image pickupapparatus 20 is an apparatus having the image pickup function. Forexample, the image pickup apparatus 20 may also be a smart phone, asmart tablet or the like.

2-2. Configuration of Information Processing Apparatus

Next, a configuration of the information processing apparatus 50 will bedescribed. FIG. 3 exemplifies a configuration of the informationprocessing apparatus. The information processing apparatus 50 isprovided with an input portion 501, an output portion 502, acommunication portion 503, a storage portion 504, a control portion 505,and a bus 506. The input portion 501 is a device for accepting an inputmanipulation from the user, and for example, is a touch panel, a mouse,a key board or the like. The output portion 502 is a device forpresenting various kinds of information, and for example, is a display,a speaker or the like.

The communication portion 503 is constituted by, for example, Wifi, NFCor the like, and makes a communication with the image pickup apparatuses20 or the like. It should be noted that the communication portion 503,not limited to the wireless communication, may also have a configurationin which the communication portion 503 makes a communication with otherapparatus through a communication cable.

The storage portion 504 stores therein a program in accordance withwhich a desired operation is carried out in the information processingapparatus 50. With regard to such a program, there are stored a program,about image processing, in accordance with which the processing similarto that in the image processing portion 204 of the image pickupapparatus 20 is executed, and a program, about operation control orcontrol for the image pickup apparatus, in accordance with which thecontrol similar to that in the control portion 220 is carried out.

With regard to the program about the image processing, there are storedan image stabilization program, a program for position alignment in thespace direction, a shake amount calculating program, an overlappingamount calculating program, an image quality difference calculatingprogram, an image quality adjusting program, a calibration program, alens distortion correcting program, a projection converting program, anangle-of-view equalizing program, a panoramic image producing program,and the like. With regard to the program about the operation control,there are stored a mode switching program, a processing order changingprogram, a parameter adjusting program, a control program for anobservation time period or an observation interval, a communicationcontrol program, an inter-image pickup apparatus synchronizationprocessing program, an image pickup apparatus instructing program, animage pickup apparatus management control program, a user interface (UI)program, and the like. It should be noted that the program stored in thestorage portion 504 may be a part of these programs, or other programsmay also be stored. The program may be acquired from other communicationapparatus through a communication network.

The control portion 505 controls the portions in such a way that theprogram stored in the storage portion 504 is read out to be executed,thereby carrying out the desired operation in the information processingapparatus 50. The bus 506 electrically connects the portions to oneanother through itself.

3. First Embodiment

Next, a first embodiment will be described. In the production of thepanoramic image, the position alignment in the space direction betweenthe captured images to be connected to one another is carried out, andthe connection is carried out in such a way that the positions of theobjects are not shifted on the connection end sides of the respectivecaptured images. In such a way, the position alignment of the object iscarried out and the images are connected to one another, therebyproducing the panoramic image. Then, in the first embodiment, thecontrol about the image stabilization for at least one of a firstcaptured image and a second captured image which are used in theproduction of the panoramic image is carried out in response to thepositional relation between the first captured image and the secondcaptured image. In addition, in the first embodiment, the imagestabilization is limited in response to the positional relation as thecontrol about the image stabilization. For example, the control aboutthe image stabilization for at least one of the first captured image andthe second captured image which are used in the synthesis is carried outin response to the amount of overlapping between the first capturedimage and the second captured image, and thus the images are connectedto each other after the position alignment of the object is carried out,thereby enabling the panoramic image to be produced. It should be notedthat in the first embodiment, the electronic image stabilization iscarried out as the image stabilization.

FIG. 4 is a view explaining the first embodiment. The first embodimentexemplifies the case where the image capturing is carried out by, forexample, using two image pickup apparatuses 20-1 and 20-2. The imagepickup apparatus 20-2 acquires duplication identification information,and controls the image stabilization operation of at least one of theimage pickup apparatus 20-1 and the image pickup apparatus 20-2 on thebasis of the duplication identification information, thereby enablingthe images to be connected to each other after the position alignment ofthe object is carried out. The duplication identification information isinformation with which an amount of overlapping of the images iscalculated and, for example, the captured images are used. In addition,image capturing setting information or the like indicating an imagecapturing direction or a focal length of the image pickup apparatus mayalso be used as the duplication identification information. Moreover,when the image pickup apparatuses are mounted to the rig which will bedescribed later, thereby determining an amount of overlapping of theimages, and when an amount of overlapping of the images is determined byan mounting angle or the like of the image pickup apparatuses to therig, rig mounting information indicating that the image pickupapparatuses are mounted to the rig or the rig mounting informationindicating the mounting angle can be used as the duplicationidentification information.

(a) of FIG. 4 depicts the case where the overlapping between the imagecapturing area (field of view) AR-1 of the image pickup apparatus 20-1and the image capturing area AR-2 of the image pickup apparatus 20-2 islarge. In addition, (b) of FIG. 4 depicts the case where the overlappingbetween the image capturing area AR-1 of the image pickup apparatus 20-1and the image capturing area AR-2 of the image pickup apparatus 20-2 issmall.

In the case where an amount of overlapping between the image capturingareas is large, even if the image stabilization is carried out for theimage pickup apparatus 20-1 and the image pickup apparatus 20-2 and thusthe image production area is moved in response to the shake, the imagearea in which the same object is duplicated can be ensured in manycases. However, when in a state in which an amount of overlappingbetween the image capturing areas is small and the image stabilizationis carried out for the image pickup apparatus 20-1 and the image pickupapparatus 20-2, it is feared that the images cannot be connected to eachother after the alignment of the position of the object due to themovement of the image production area responding to the shake. In thiscase, the panoramic image cannot be produced because the images cannotbe connected to each other after the alignment of the position of theobject.

FIG. 5 is a view explaining the overlapping of the captured images, andthe image stabilization. Incidentally, the images which are to beconnected to each other in the production of the panoramic image shallbe the image in an image production area AP-1 in a captured image PG-1in the image capturing area AR-1 acquired in the image pickup apparatus20-1, and the image in an image production area AP-2 in a captured imagePG-2 in the image capturing area AR-2 acquired in the image pickupapparatus 20-2.

It is feared that in the image stabilization, the blurring or the likeof the image which has been inconspicuous because of the shake becomesremarkable if the shake is perfectly corrected, and the correction orthe like in which a certain level of shake is left is carried out insome cases. For example, even if the image capturing area is moved bythe shake, the image stabilization is carried out after the imageproduction area AP-1 and the image production area AP-2 are moved to animage production area AP′-1 and an image production area AP′-2,respectively. Here, when as depicted in (a) of FIG. 5, the overlappingbetween the captured image PG-1 and the captured image PG-2 is large,the image production area AP′-1 and the image production area AP′-2 arepartially duplicated. Therefore, the panoramic image is produced byconnecting the image in the image production area AP′-1 and the image inthe image production area AP′-2 to each other utilizing the duplicationportion after the alignment of the positions of the object. However,when as depicted in (b) of FIG. 5, the overlapping between the capturedimage PG-1 and the captured image PG-2 is small, even if the capturedimage PG-1 and the captured image PG-2 are partially duplicated, theimage production area AP′-1 and the image production area AP′-2 do notduplicate in some cases. For this reason, the image of the imageproduction area AP′-1 and the image of the image production area AP′-2cannot be connected to each other with the positions of the objectaligned.

Therefore, in the first embodiment, for example, the image pickupapparatus 20-2 determines an amount of overlapping between the capturedimages, and thus limits the image stabilization of both or either one inresponse to the amount of overlapping, thereby leaving the image of thesame object in both image production areas. As far as the limitation ofthe image stabilization, the image stabilization may be stopped, or anamount of image stabilization may be limited in response to an amount ofoverlapping. For example, when the position alignment in the spacedirection is carried out in such a way that one of the captured imagePG-1 and the captured image PG-2 is moved, thereby enabling the positionalignment of the object to be carried out with the other captured image,an amount of image stabilization is limited on the basis of a vector(hereinafter referred to as “a position adjustment vector”) obtainedwhen one captured image is moved so as to be able to carry out theposition alignment of the object with the other captured image.

Here, the position adjustment vector will be described. As for theposition adjustment vector, the area of one of the captured image PG-1and the captured image PG-2 is moved so as to overlap the area of theother and, for example, an error average value in the overlapping areais calculated. Here, when the positions of the object agree with eachother in the overlapping area, the error average value in theoverlapping area becomes small. Therefore, an amount of movement to theposition where the error average value in the overlapping area is thesmallest, and the movement direction are set as the position adjustmentvector. FIG. 6 is a view explaining the position adjustment vector. Itshould be noted that in the figure, each of the sizes of the capturedimages PG-1 and PG-2 is set as 1920 pixels×1080 pixels. In addition, itis assumed that the coordinate origin for the captured images PG-1 andPG-2 is located in the upper left position, the coordinate position ofthe object OB is (120, 500) in the captured image PG-2 depicted in (a)of FIG. 6, and the coordinate position of the object OB is (1800, 500)in the captured image PG-1 depicted in (b) of FIG. 6. Here, when thecaptured image PG-1 is moved to agree in position of the object with thecaptured image PG-2, if as depicted in (c) of FIG. 6, an amount ofmovement of the captured image PG-1 is an amount of movement of (−1680,0), then, the positions of the object agree with each other between thecaptured image PG-1 and the captured image PG-2. That is to say, avector with which the captured image PG-1 is moved by an amount ofmovement of (−1680, 0) is set as the position adjustment vector.

In this way, when the captured image PG-1 and the captured image PG-2are transversely arranged side by side to be connected to each other insuch a way that the positions of the object agree with each other, as anabsolute value of a transverse component of the position adjustmentvector becomes smaller, a transverse size of the overlapping areabecomes larger. Therefore, in the limitation of an amount of imagestabilization based on the position adjustment vector, as an amount ofmovement (absolute value) of the position adjustment vector becomessmaller and thus an amount of overlapping becomes larger, the limitationof the image stabilization is reduced. In addition, there may be adopteda procedure in which the feature points are extracted from the capturedimage PG-1 and the captured image PG-2 by, for example, using SIFT(Scale-Invariant Feature Transform), SURF (Speeded-Up Robust Features)or the like, and the image stabilization is limited on the basis of thenumber of feature points (feature point pairs) made to correspond toeach other between the captured image PG-1 and the captured image PG-2.Specifically, when the duplicated portion becomes larger between thecaptured image PG-1 and the captured image PG-2, the number of featurepoint pairs contained in the duplicated portion also becomes larger.Therefore, as the number of feature point pairs becomes larger, thelimitation of the image stabilization is reduced.

FIG. 7 exemplifies the case where an amount of image stabilization islimited in response to an amount of overlapping. When the overlapping ofthe image capturing areas (captured images) is small, the image pickupapparatus 20-2 limits a parameter, for example, a size of the imageproduction area in such a way that the image of the same object iscontained in both image production areas. Specifically, as an amount ofoverlapping of the image capturing areas becomes smaller, the size ofthe image production area AP is increased, and an excessive area as anarea difference between a valid pixel area (corresponding to the imagecapturing area AR) and the image production area AP is reduced.Incidentally, a maximum size of the image production area AP is a sizeof the valid pixel area. In this way, as an amount of overlapping of thecaptured images becomes smaller, the excessive area is narrowed and theimage stabilization is limited. Thus, the area in which the images ofthe same object are duplicated can be ensured at the time of the imagestabilization in the images in two image production areas to besynthesized. It should be noted that if in the image stabilization, foronly one image production area, the size of the image production area islimited in response to an amount of overlapping, then, the sizes of theimages segmented from the captured images acquired in the image pickupapparatus 20-1 and the image pickup apparatus 20-2 are different fromeach other. For this reason, for equalizing the sizes of the imagessegmented from the captured images, it is only necessary to limit theimage stabilization in the respective images. After that, the imagepickup apparatus 20-2 synthesizes the image production area AP′-1 andthe image production area AP′-2, and connects the images to each otherafter the object position alignment is carried out, thereby producingthe panoramic image. In the production of the panoramic image, if thecaptured images are projection-converted in a virtual projection surfaceto be connected to each other, then, the connection of the images can becarried out with high accuracy.

3-1. Operation of First Embodiment

FIG. 8 is a flow chart depicting an operation of the first embodiment,and it is assumed that the image pickup system 10, for example, has theconfiguration depicted in (b) of FIG. 1. In addition, it is also assumedthat in descriptions as well of flow charts depicting operations ofembodiments which will be described later, the image pickup system 10,for example, has the configuration depicted in (b) of FIG. 1.

In Step ST1, the image pickup apparatus 20-2 acquires the captured imageof the other apparatus as the duplication identification information.The image pickup apparatus 20-2, for example, acquires the capturedimage PG-1 in the image capturing area AR-1 produced in the image pickupapparatus 20-1, and processing proceeds to Step ST2.

In Step ST2, the image pickup apparatus 20-2 calculates an amount ofoverlapping by using the captured image as the duplicationidentification information. The image pickup apparatus 20-2 carries outthe position alignment in the space direction between the captured imagePG-2 in the image capturing area AR-2 produced therein, and the capturedimage PG-1 acquired from the image pickup apparatus 20-1, and calculatesan amount of overlapping. For example, the image pickup apparatus 20-2calculates the size of the position adjustment vector with which onecaptured image is moved so as to carry out the position alignment ofobject with the other captured image, the number of feature pointsoverlapping each other, and the like as an amount of overlapping, andthe processing proceeds to Step ST3.

In Step ST3, the image pickup apparatus 20-2 judges whether or not theamount of overlapping is equal to or smaller than an image stabilizationlimitation threshold value. When the image pickup apparatus 20-2 judgesthat the amount of overlapping calculated in Step ST2 is equal to orsmaller than the preset image stabilization limitation threshold value,the processing proceeds to Step ST4. On the other hand, when the imagepickup apparatus 20-2 judges that the amount of overlapping is largerthan the image stabilization limitation threshold value, the processingproceeds to Step ST5.

In Step ST4, the image pickup apparatus 20-2 limits the imagestabilization. The image pickup apparatus 20-2 limits the imagestabilization in such a way that the images can be connected to eachother after the position alignment of the object is carried out. Forexample, the image pickup apparatus 20-2 stops the image stabilizationof at least one of the image pickup apparatus 20-1 and the image pickupapparatus 20-2. In addition, the image pickup apparatus 20-2 may changea parameter of the image stabilization in response to the amount ofoverlapping to limit an amount of image stabilization. The image pickupapparatus 20-2, for example, limits the size of the image productionarea in response to the shake in the manner as described above in such away that the area in which the images of the same object overlap eachother in the captured images after the image stabilization can beensured. Then, the processing proceeds to Step ST6.

In Step ST5, the image pickup apparatus 20-2 carries out the imagestabilization without limitation. The image pickup apparatus 20-2 canconnect the images to each other after the position alignment of theobject is carried out even when the image stabilization is carried outbecause the amount of overlapping is large, and carries out the imagestabilization without limitation. Then, the processing proceeds to StepST6.

In Step ST6, the image pickup apparatus 20-2 produces the panoramicimage. The image pickup apparatus 20-2 connects the images in the imageproduction areas extracted from the captured images PG-1 and PG-2 toeach other after the position alignment of the object is carried out,thereby producing the panoramic image.

In the processing of the flow chart depicted in FIG. 8, when a stillimage is produced as the panoramic image, that is, at the time ofphotographing of a still image, the pieces of processing from Step ST1to Step ST6 are executed once. In addition, when a moving image isproduced as the panoramic image, when a monitor image is produced beforerecording of a still image or a moving image, and so forth, the piecesof processing from Step ST1 to Step ST6 are repetitively executed with aframe as a unit or with a plurality of frames as a unit. Moreover, whenthe production of the panoramic image is carried out in an off-line,that is, when the production of the panoramic image is not carried outconcurrently with the photographing, the pieces of processing from StepST1 to Step ST5 are executed at the time of the photographing, and theimages in the image production areas extracted from the captured imagesPG-1 and PG-2 are stored in the recording medium. Thereafter, thepanoramic image of the still image or the moving image may be producedby using the images recorded in the recording medium. It should be notedthat when the production of the panoramic image is carried out in theoff-line, the image stabilization information may also be stored in therecording medium.

In addition, although in the operation depicted in FIG. 8, the casewhere the captured image is used as the duplication identificationinformation is exemplified, the duplication identification informationis by no means limited to the captured image. For example, an imagecapturing range becomes obvious from the image capturing direction orthe focal length of the image pickup apparatus. Therefore, an amount ofoverlapping may be judged by using image capturing setting informationindicating the image capturing direction, the focal length or the likeof the image pickup apparatus instead of using the captured image fromthe other apparatus. Then, the pieces of processing of Step ST3, StepST5, and Step ST6 may be executed by using the judgment result about theamount of overlapping. In addition, in the operation depicted in FIG. 8,the case where when the amount of overlapping is equal to or smallerthan the image stabilization limitation threshold value, the imagestabilization is limited is exemplified. However, the processing forlimiting the amount of image stabilization may be executed in responseto the amount of overlapping instead of executing the pieces ofprocessing of Steps ST3, ST4, and ST5.

In such a manner, in the first embodiment, the control about the imagestabilization for at least one of the first captured image and thesecond captured image which are used in the synthesis is carried out inresponse to the amount of overlapping between the first captured imageand the second captured image. For this reason, when the amount ofoverlapping between the first captured image and the second capturedimage is small, the image pickup apparatus 20-2 can produce thepanoramic image because the image stabilization is limited in such a waythe images can be connected to each other after the position alignmentof the object is carried out.

3-2. Other Operation of First Embodiment

In the operation of the first embodiment described above, thedescription has been given with respect to the case where the limitationof the image stabilization is automatically carried out in response tothe amount of overlapping between the first captured image and thesecond captured image. However, the user may carry out the limitation ofthe image stabilization. Then, in other operation of the firstembodiment, a description will be given with respect to the case wherethe user is notified of the desirable setting on the basis of thecalculation result about the amount of overlapping between the firstcaptured image and the second captured image, and the user is allowed toset the limitation of the image stabilization in response to thenotification.

The notification to the user is desirably carried out in the form ofdisplay and/or voice before the still image or the moving image forproduction of the panoramic image is captured. The image pickupapparatus 20-2 uses, as a notification processing portion, the displayportion 205 when the notification is made in the form of display, andthe voice input/output portion 206 when the notification is made in theform of voice.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart depicting other operation of the firstembodiment. In Step ST11, the image pickup apparatus 20-2 acquires thecaptured image from the other apparatus. The image pickup apparatus20-2, for example, acquires the captured image PG-1, in the imagecapturing area AR-1, produced in the image pickup apparatus 20-1. Then,the processing proceeds to Step ST12.

In Step ST12, the image pickup apparatus 20-2 calculates an amount ofoverlapping. The image pickup apparatus 20-2 carries out the positionalignment in the space direction between the captured image PG-2produced and the captured image PG-1 acquired from the image pickupapparatus 20-1, and calculates an amount of overlapping. For example,the image pickup apparatus 20-2 calculates the size of the positionadjustment vector with which the positions of the object are made toagree with each other, the number of overlapping feature points, and thelike as the amount of overlapping. Then, the processing proceeds to StepST13.

In Step ST13, the image pickup apparatus 20-2 judges whether or not theamount of overlapping is equal to or smaller than the imagestabilization limitation threshold value. When the image pickupapparatus 20-2 judges that the amount of overlapping calculated in StepST12 is equal to or smaller than the preset image stabilizationlimitation threshold value, the processing proceeds to Step ST14. Whenthe image pickup apparatus 20-2 judges that the amount of overlapping islarger than the image stabilization limitation threshold value, theprocessing proceeds to Step ST15.

In Step ST14, the image pickup apparatus 20-2 notifies an instruction tolimit the image stabilization. The image pickup apparatus 20-2 notifiesthe user of the effect that, for example, the image stabilization shouldbe stopped by using the display or the voice. FIG. 10 exemplifies thecase where the notification to the user is carried out by using thedisplay. Here, (a) of FIG. 10 depicts a notification of the instructionto limit the image stabilization, and, for example, the user is notifiedof the effect that the image stabilization mode should be set to an OFFstate. In addition, the image pickup apparatus 20-2 may notify the userof the effect that the amount of correction should be limited bychanging the parameter of the image stabilization in response to theamount of overlapping. The image pickup apparatus 20-2 carries out thenotification of the instruction to limit the image stabilization, andthe processing proceeds to Step ST16.

In Step ST15, the image pickup apparatus 20-2 carries out thenotification of the instruction to carry out the image stabilization.The image pickup apparatus 20-2 notifies the user of the effect that theimage stabilization should be carried out by using the display or thevoice. (b) of FIG. 10 depicts the notification of the instruction tocarry out the image stabilization, and, for example, notifies the userof the effect that the image stabilization mode should be set to an ONstate, and the processing proceeds to Step ST16.

It should be noted that the pieces of processing in Steps ST14 and ST15may be executed only in the case where the state of the imagestabilization mode which is currently set in the image pickup apparatus20-2 is different from the detection result in Step ST13. For example,when the image stabilization mode which is currently set is an ON state,the instruction notification is carried out in the case of “Yes” in StepST13. However, no instruction notification is carried out in the case of“No” in Step ST13.

In Step ST16, the image pickup apparatus 20-2 produces the panoramicimage. The image pickup apparatus 20-2 connects the images in the imageproduction areas extracted from the captured images PG-1 and PG-2 toeach other after the positions of the object are aligned, therebyproducing the panoramic image.

It should be noted that although in the operation depicted in FIG. 9,the case where the captured image is used as the duplicationidentification information is exemplified, the duplicationidentification information is by no means limited to the captured image.For example, the image capturing range becomes obvious from the imagecapturing direction or the focal length of the image pickup apparatus.Therefore, the amount of overlapping may be calculated by using theimage capturing setting information indicating the image capturingdirection or the focal length of the image pickup apparatus as theduplication identification information. In addition, the operationdepicted in FIG. 9 exemplifies the case where the image stabilization islimited when the amount of overlapping is equal to or smaller than theimage stabilization limitation threshold value. However, instead ofexecuting the pieces of processing Steps ST13, ST14, and ST15, theprocessing for limiting the amount of image stabilization in response tothe amount of overlapping may be executed.

In such a manner, in the operation of the first embodiment, the user isnotified of the control about the image stabilization for at least oneof the first captured image and the second captured image which are usedin the synthesis in response to the amount of overlapping between thefirst captured image and the second captured image. For this reason,when the amount of overlapping between the first captured image and thesecond captured image is small, the image pickup apparatus 20-2 limitsthe image stabilization in such a way that the images in the imageproduction areas can be connected to each other to produce the panoramicimage on the basis of the instruction to limit the image stabilizationby the user. Therefore, the panoramic image can be produced on the basisof the instruction of the user.

4. Second Embodiment

Next, a second embodiment will be described. When the amount ofoverlapping between the first captured image and the second capturedimage is small as described above, it is feared that if the imagestabilization is carried out in the image pickup apparatus, then, theareas in which the images of the same object are duplicated cannot beensured, and thus the position alignment of the same object cannot becarried out to connect the images to each other. Then, in the secondembodiment, when the amount of overlapping between the first capturedimage and the second captured image is small, the positional relationbetween the captured images provided in the two respective image pickupapparatuses is set as a positional relation in which the positionalignment of the same object can be carried out to connect the images toeach other, and the image stabilization is carried out in a state inwhich this positional relation is held. In addition, when the amount ofoverlapping between the first captured image and the second capturedimage is large, the image stabilization is carried out and the positionalignment in the space direction is carried out by using the capturedimages after the image stabilization. Moreover, the images in which theimage stabilization and the position alignment in the space directionare carried out are synthesized to produce the panoramic image.

4-1. Operation of Second Embodiment

Next, a description will be given with respect to an operation in thecase where two image pickup apparatuses are used. FIG. 11 is a viewexplaining an operation in the case where the amount of overlappingbetween the captured images is small. (a) of FIG. 11 depicts capturedimages PG-1 and PG-2. (b) of FIG. 11 depicts the position alignment inthe space direction between the captured images. The captured imagesPG-1 and PG-2 are aligned in such a way that a duplication area AC canbe ensured. (c) of FIG. 11 depicts the captured images after the imagestabilization. The image stabilization is carried out in such a way thatthe state after the position alignment is held. Thus, in the capturedimages PGa-1 and PGa-2 after the image stabilization, a state in whichthe duplication area is ensured is obtained. Therefore, the positionalignment in the space direction between the captured images PGa-1 andPGa-2 in such a way the images of the same object are duplicated. Then,after the position alignment of the same object is carried out, theimages are connected to each other, thereby enabling a panoramic imagePM to be produced.

Incidentally, (d) of FIG. 11 depicts the case where the imagestabilization is carried out without carrying out the positionalignment. Here, when the image production areas after the imagestabilization for the captured images PG-1 and PG-2, for example, becomethe image production areas AP′-1 and AP′-2, respectively, as depicted in(e) of FIG. 11, a state in which the duplication area cannot be ensuredin the image production areas AP′-1 and AP′-2 is obtained. Therefore,the position alignment of the same object cannot be carried out toconnect the images to each other. It should be noted that the positionalignment in the space direction of the images is by no means limited tothe case where captured images PGa-1 and PGa-2 are used. For example,the captured image PGa-1 may be supplied from the image pickup apparatus20-1 to the image pickup apparatus 20-2, and the image pickup apparatus20-2 may align the position of the captured image PGa-1 with the imageproduction area AP′-2 after the image stabilization. In addition, forexample, the captured image PGa-1 and the shake information may besupplied from the image pickup apparatus 20-1 to the image pickupapparatus 20-2, and the image pickup apparatus 20-2 may align theposition of the captured image PGa-2 with the image production areaAP′-1 after the image stabilization based on the shake information.

FIG. 12 is a view explaining an operation in the case where the amountof overlapping between the captured images is large. (a) of FIG. 12depicts image production areas AP′-1 and AP′-2 after the imagestabilization in the captured images PG-1 and PG-2. In addition, (b) ofFIG. 12 depicts the image production areas AP′-1 and AP′-2 after theimage stabilization. In the case where the amount of overlapping betweenthe captured images (image capturing areas) is large, even if the imagestabilization is carried out, the duplication areas AC in which theimages of the same object are duplicated are ensured in the imageproduction areas AP′-1 and AP′-2. Therefore, as depicted in (c) of FIG.12, the images in the image production areas AP′-1 and AP′-2 can beconnected to each other in such a way that the images of the same objectare duplicated, thereby producing the panoramic image PM. In addition,the position alignment is carried out by using the image productionareas AP′-1 and AP′-2 after the image stabilization, thereby enablingthe search range of the position alignment to be reduced as comparedwith the case where the position alignment is carried out by using thecaptured images PG-1 and PG-2.

FIG. 13 is a flow chart depicting the operation of the secondembodiment. In Step ST21, the image pickup apparatus 20-2 acquires thecaptured image from the other apparatus. The image pickup apparatus20-2, for example, acquires the captured image PG-1, in the imagecapturing area AR-1, produced in the image pickup apparatus 20-1, andthe processing proceeds to Step ST22.

In Step ST22, the image pickup apparatus 20-2 calculates the amount ofoverlapping. The image pickup apparatus 20-2 carries out the positionalignment in the space direction between the captured image PG-2produced and the captured image PG-1 acquired from the image pickupapparatus 20-1, and calculates the amount of overlapping. For example,the image pickup apparatus 20-2 calculates the size of the positionadjustment vector with which the images of the same object overlap eachother, the number of overlapping feature points, and the like as theamount of overlapping. Then, the processing proceeds to Step ST23.

In Step ST23, the image pickup apparatus 20-2 judges whether or not theamount of overlapping is equal to or smaller than the processing ordersetting threshold value. When the image pickup apparatus 20-2 judgesthat the amount of overlapping calculated in Step ST22 is equal to orsmaller than the preset processing order setting threshold value, theprocessing proceeds to Step ST24. On the other hand, when the imagepickup apparatus 20-2 judges that the amount of overlapping calculatedin Step ST22 is larger than the processing order setting thresholdvalue, the processing proceeds to Step ST26.

In Step ST24, the image pickup apparatus 20-2 carries out the positionalignment in the space direction. The image pickup apparatus 20-2carries out the position alignment in such a way that the duplicationareas, for example, are ensured between the captured image PG-1 and thecaptured image PG-2 and the positions of the same object are alignedwith each other, thereby enabling the images to be connected to eachother. Then, the processing proceeds to Step ST25.

In Step ST25, the image pickup apparatus 20-2 carries out the imagestabilization. The image pickup apparatus 20-2 carries out the controlin such a way that a state after the position alignment in the spacedirection, for example, as depicted in (b) of FIG. 11, the positionalrelation between the captured image PG-1 and the captured image PG-2 forwhich the duplication areas AC can be ensured is held, and the imagestabilization is carried out in the image pickup apparatuses 20-1 and20-2. Then, the processing proceeds to Step ST27.

In Step ST26, the image pickup apparatus 20-2 carries out the imagestabilization. The image pickup apparatus 20-2 carries out the controlin such a way that, for example, the image stabilization is carried outin the image pickup apparatuses 20-1 and 20-2. Then, the processingproceeds to Step ST27.

In Step ST27, the image pickup apparatus 20-2 carries out the positionalignment in the space direction. The image pickup apparatus 20-2carries out the position alignment in such a way that the images of thesame object overlap each other between the captured image PGc-1 and thecaptured image PGc-2 after the image stabilization. Then, the processingproceeds to Step ST28.

In Step ST28, the image pickup apparatus 20-2 produces the panoramicimage. The image pickup apparatus 20-2 connects the images in the imageproduction areas to each other which are extracted from the capturedimages PG-1 and PG-2 in such a way that the images of the same objectare duplicated, thereby producing the panoramic image.

It should be noted that when a still image is produced as the panoramicimage, the pieces of processing from Step ST21 to Step ST28 are executedin the flow chart depicted in FIG. 13. In addition, when a moving imageor a monitor image is produced as the panoramic image, the pieces ofprocessing from Step ST21 to Step ST28 are repetitively executed.Moreover, when the production of the panoramic image is carried out inthe off-line, the pieces of processing from Step ST21 to Step ST27 maybe executed, the images in the image production areas may be stored inthe recording medium, and thereafter, the panoramic image of the stillimage or the moving image may be produced by using the images stored inthe recording medium.

In such a manner, according to the second embodiment, when the amount ofoverlapping between the first captured image and the second capturedimage is small, the position alignment of the captured images is carriedout between the image pickup apparatuses in such a way that the imagescan be connected to each other by aligning the positions of the sameobject with each other. After that, the state after the positionalignment is held, and the image stabilization is carried out.Therefore, even when the amount of overlapping between the firstcaptured image and the second captured image is small, the panoramicimage can be produced.

4-2. Other Operation of Second Embodiment

Next, a description will be given with respect to an operation in thecase where three or more image pickup apparatuses are used as otheroperation of the second embodiment.

FIG. 14 exemplifies the operation in the case where five image pickupapparatuses are used. It is assumed that as depicted in (a) of FIG. 14,in captured images PG-1 to PG-5 which are produced by the five imagepickup apparatuses, an amount of overlapping between the captured imagePG-2 and the captured image PG-3 is equal to or smaller than a presetprocessing order setting threshold value, and an amount of overlappingamong other captured images is larger than the processing order settingthreshold value. It should be noted that duplication areas AC12, AC23,AC34, and AC45 represent areas in which the images of the same objectoverlap one another.

Here, when an amount of overlapping between some captured images becomesequal to or smaller than the processing order setting threshold value,the position alignment in the space direction is carried out between thecaptured images the amount of overlapping of which is equal to orsmaller than the processing order setting threshold value, andthereafter, the image stabilization is carried out. Therefore, asdepicted in (b) of FIG. 14, the position alignment in the spacedirection is carried out between the captured image PG2 and the capturedimage PG-3. After that, the image stabilization for the captured imagesis carried out.

(c) of FIG. 14 depicts image production areas AP-1, AP-4, and AP-5 afterthe image stabilization. In addition, the image production area of thecaptured images PG-2 and the captured image PG-3 for which the positionalignment in the space direction is carried out corresponds to an areaAP-23. In the production of the panoramic image, as depicted in (d) ofFIG. 14, the images in the image production areas AP-1, AP-4, and AP-5and the area AP-23 after the image stabilization are connected to oneanother in such a way that the images in the duplication areas AC12,AC23, AC34, and AC45 overlap one another. Therefore, the panoramic imagethus produced becomes the image in which the positions of the object arealigned to be connected to one another.

In such a way, according to other operation of the second embodiment,even when three or more image pickup apparatuses are provided, and thusthere is caused the case where an amount of overlapping between imagesis equal to smaller than the processing order setting threshold value,the panoramic image can be produced.

5. Third Embodiment

For a plurality of image pickup apparatuses, a period of dominant shakediffers depending on what kind of moving body the plurality of imagepickup apparatuses are provided in. For example, a period of the shakediffers between the case where a plurality of image pickup apparatusesare mounted to a vehicle such as a bicycle or an automobile, and thecase where a human being carries the plurality of image pickupapparatuses. Thus, a change in positional relation among the capturedimages in the time direction differs in response to the period of theshake. In addition, for a plurality of image pickup apparatuses, themagnitude and direction of the shake differ among the image pickupapparatuses depending on in what state, to which of the mountingpositions, and to what kind of moving body the image pickup apparatusesare mounted in some cases. Thus, a change in positional relation in thespace direction among the captured images produced by a plurality ofimage pickup apparatuses differs depending on a difference in magnitudeand direction of the shake.

In addition, if in the production of the panoramic image, the positionalrelation in the time direction among the captured images and thepositional relation in the space direction among the captured imagesproduced by a plurality of image pickup apparatuses are constant, then,the images to be used in the production of the panoramic image can bereadily acquired from the captured images. However, when the positionalrelation among the captured images is changed, the images to be used inthe production of the panoramic image must be acquired from the capturedimages on the basis of the change in positional relation.

Against the change in positional relation in the time direction amongthe captured images, the positional relation in the time direction amongthe captured images can be held approximately constant by carrying outthe image stabilization. In addition, for holding constant thepositional relation in the space direction among the captured imageswhich are produced in a plurality of image pickup apparatuses, it isonly necessary to carry out the position alignment in the spacedirection among the images. However, if the position alignment in thespace direction among the images is carried out every frame irrespectiveof the presence or absence of the change in positional relation in thespace direction, then, the calculation cost for the position alignmentincreases. Then, in the third embodiment, the frequency of the positionalignment in the space direction among the captured images is controlledin response to the degree of the change in positional relation among thecaptured images.

5-1. Operation of Third Embodiment

FIG. 15 is a view explaining an operation for controlling the frequencyof the position alignment in the space direction in response to thedegree of the change in the positional relation between the image pickupapparatuses. In this operation, for example, the captured image PG-1 andthe shake information are supplied from the image pickup apparatus 20-1to the image pickup apparatus 20-2. In addition, the image pickupapparatus 20-2 sets the image production area AP-2 after the imagestabilization on the basis of the shake information. Further, the imagepickup apparatus 20-2 carries out the setting of the image productionarea AP-1 after the image stabilization on the basis of the positionadjustment vector acquired by carrying out the position alignment in thespace direction through which the positions of the object are alignedwith each other by using the image production area AP-2 in the capturedimage PG-2 and the captured image PG-1 acquired from the image pickupapparatus 20-1. Alternatively, the image pickup apparatus 20-2 carriesout the setting of the image production area AP-1 after the imagestabilization on the basis of the position adjustment vector and theshake information. Moreover, the image pickup apparatus 20-2 producesthe panoramic image by using the image in the image production area AP-1and the image in the image production area AP-2. Incidentally, in FIG.15, and FIGS. 18 and 19 which will be described later, a frame, of thecaptured image PG-1, in which the image production area AP-1 after theimage stabilization is set on the basis of the calculation of theposition adjustment vector and the position adjustment vector thuscalculated is depicted in the form of a thin line frame. A frame, of thecaptured image PG-1, in which the image production area AP-1 after theimage stabilization is set on the basis of the position adjustmentvector and the shake information is depicted in the form of a brokenline frame.

(a) of FIG. 15 depicts the operation in the case where the degree of thechange in positional relation between the captured images (image pickupapparatuses) is large. (b) of FIG. 15 depicts the operation in the casewhere the degree of the change in positional relation between thecaptured images (image pickup apparatuses) is small. The degree of thechange in positional relation between the captured images (image pickupapparatuses) is determined as follows. That is to say, it is judged fora predetermined time period whether or not the change in positionalrelation between the captured image PG-1 and the captured image PG-2which change is generated by a difference in magnitude or direction ofthe shake between the image pickup apparatus 20-1 and the image pickupapparatus 20-2 exceeds a change judgment threshold value on the basis ofthe shake information of the image pickup apparatus 20-1 and the shakeinformation of the image pickup apparatus 20-2. Thus, a rate of thenumber of frames in each of which an amount of change exceeds the changejudgment threshold value is determined as the degree of the change.

When the degree of the change in positional relation between thecaptured images (image pickup apparatuses) is large, the image pickupapparatus 20-2 increases the frequency of the position alignment in thespace direction. For example, when as depicted in (a) of FIG. 15, thepositional relation between the image pickup apparatuses, that is, thepositional relation between the captured image PG-1 and the capturedimage PG-2 is largely changed every frame, the image pickup apparatus20-2 carries out the image stabilization every frame for the imageproduction area AP-2. That is to say, the image pickup apparatus 20-2carries out the position alignment in the time direction for the imageproduction area AP-2.

FIG. 16 is a view explaining the position alignment in the timedirection. Incidentally, in FIG. 16, the size of the captured image PG-2is set as 1920 pixels×1080 pixels. In addition, it is assumed that thecoordinate origin of the captured image PG-2 is located in the top leftposition. It is also assumed that the object OB is in the coordinateposition (120, 500) in the captured image PG-2 f 0 of the frame 0depicted in (a) of FIG. 16, and is in the coordinate position (120, 560)in the captured image PG-2 f 1 of the frame 1 depicted in (b) of FIG.16. Moreover, it is assumed that the coordinate positions of the fourcorners of the image production area AP-2 are the coordinate positionsAZa, AZb, AZc, and AZd containing the object OB in the frame 0. Here,when the captured image PG-2 f 1 of the frame 1 is moved so that theposition of the object is made to agree with the captured image PG-2 f 0of the frame 0, if as depicted in (c) of FIG. 16, an amount of movementof the captured image PG-2 f 1 is an amount of movement (0, −60), then,the position of the object OB in the image production area AP-2 in thecaptured image PG-2 f 1 agrees with the position of the object OB in theimage production area AP-2 in the captured image PG-2 f 0. That is tosay, the position alignment in the time direction can be carried out. Itshould be noted that in FIG. 15, and FIGS. 18 and 19 which will bedescribed later, a vector indicating the image production area after theimage stabilization with the captured image PG as a reference isexemplified as the image stabilization vector for correction of theshake generated in the captured image.

In addition, the image pickup apparatus 20-2 carries out the positionalignment in the space direction between the image production area AP-2and the captured image PG-1 every frame, and sets the image productionarea AP-1 every frame. When the position alignment in the spacedirection is carried out every frame, the image pickup apparatus 20-2sets the image production area AP-1 in such a way that the imageproduction area AP-2 and the position of the object after the imagestabilization agree with each other by using the position adjustmentvector acquired by the position alignment in the space direction.

When the degree of the change in positional relation between thecaptured images (image pickup apparatuses) is small, a change from astate in which the duplication area, for example, is secured by apredetermined amount between the image in the image production area AP-1and the image in the image production area AP-2 to other state is small.Therefore, even if the frequency of the position alignment in the spacedirection is reduced, the state in which the duplication area is securedis maintained. Therefore, when, for example, as depicted in (b) of FIG.15, the change in positional relation between the captured image PG-1and the captured image PG-2 is small, the image pickup apparatus 20-2carries out the image stabilization every frame, that is, the positionalignment in the time direction for the image production area AP-2. Inaddition, the image pickup apparatus 20-2 carries out the positionalignment in the space direction between the image production area AP-2and the captured image PG-1 at the intervals of a plurality of frames,and holds the last position adjustment vector for a time period forwhich no position alignment is carried out. Moreover, the image pickupapparatus 20-2 sets the image production area AP-1 in such a way thatthe image production area AP-2 and the object after the imagestabilization agree in position with each other in the frame in whichthe position alignment in the space direction is carried out by usingthe position adjustment vector acquired through the position alignmentin the space direction. In addition, the image pickup apparatus 20-2carries out the position alignment in the time direction in such a waythat no shake is generated for the last image production area AP-1 whichis set by carrying out the position alignment in the space direction inthe frame in which no position alignment in the space direction iscarried out.

FIG. 17 is a view explaining the position alignment, in the timedirection, about the frame in which no position alignment in the spacedirection is carried out. Incidentally, in FIG. 17, each of the sizes ofthe captured images PG-1 and PG-2 is set as 1920 pixels×1080 pixels. Inaddition, it is assumed that the coordinate origin of the capturedimages PG-1 f 0, PG-1 f 1, and PG-2 f 0 is located at the top leftposition. It is also assumed that in the frame 0, the object OB islocated in the coordinate position (120, 500) in the captured image PG-2f 0 depicted in (a) of FIG. 17, and located in the coordinate position(1800, 500) in the captured image PG-1 f 0 depicted in (b) of FIG. 17.In this case, as described with reference to FIG. 6, the captured imagePG-1 f 0 is moved by an amount of movement (−1680, 0) as depicted in (c)of FIG. 17, thereby enabling the position alignment in the spacedirection between the captured images PG-1 f 0 and PG-2 f 0 to becarried out. Incidentally, in the image production area AP-2, thecoordinate positions of the four corners AZa, AZb, AZc, and AZd are setso as to contain the object OB. In the image production area AP-1, thecoordinate positions of the four corners AZe, AZf, AZg, and AZh are setin such a way that the positions of the object OB are made to agree witheach other to connect the image in the image production area AP-1 to theimage in the image production area AP-2, thereby enabling the panoramicimage to be produced. It should be noted that the coordinate positionsAZa to AZh are the positions with the coordinate position (0, 0) as thereference.

Next, it is assumed that in the captured image PG-1 f 1 in the frame 1depicted in (d) of FIG. 17, the object OB is shifted to the coordinateposition (120, 600) by the shake of the image pickup apparatus 20-1. Inthis case, even when as depicted in (e) of FIG. 17, the captured imagePG-1 f 1 in the frame 1 is moved to the position where in the frame 0,the position alignment in the space direction is carried out, theposition of the object OB of the captured image PG-1 f 0, and theposition of the object OB of the captured image PG-1 f 1 do not agreewith each other. Therefore, in the frame 1 in which no positionalignment in the space direction is carried out, the position alignmentin the time direction between the captured image PG-1 f 0 and thecaptured image PG-1 f 1 after the position alignment in the spacedirection is carried out. Here, when as depicted in (f) of FIG. 17, anamount of movement of the captured image PG-1 f 1 from the positionafter the position alignment in the space direction in the frame 0 is anamount of movement of (0, −100), the position of the object OB in theimage production area AP-1 in the captured image PG-1 f 1 and theposition of the object OB in the image production area AP-1 in thecaptured image PG-1 f 0 agree with each other. That is to say, theposition alignment in the time direction can be carried out. Therefore,in the frame 1, the image for which the image stabilization is carriedout is obtained by using the image in the image production area AP-1 inthe captured image PG-1 f 1 in which the position alignment in the timedirection is carried out for the frame 0.

In addition, in the frame 1, in the captured image PG2 f 1, as depictedin (h) of FIG. 17, the position alignment in the time direction iscarried out. Therefore, the position of the object OB in the imageproduction area AP-1 in the captured image PG-1 f 1 of the frame 1depicted in (f) of FIG. 17, and the position of the object OB in theimage production area AP-2 in the captured image PG-2 f 1 of the frame 1depicted in (h) of FIG. 17 can be made to agree with those in the caseof the frame 0. That is to say, the image production area AP-1 and theimage production area AP-2 can be set in such a way that the shake isnot caused, and the positions of the object agree with each other.

When the degree of the change in positional relation between thecaptured images (image pickup apparatuses) is small, the image pickupapparatus 20-2 executes such processing, whereby even if the frequencyof the position alignment in the space direction is reduced, the statein which the duplication area is ensured can be maintained. In addition,the calculation cost and the data amount for the position alignment inthe space direction can be reduced.

FIG. 18 exemplifies the operation in the case where the positionalignment in the space direction is carried out every frame. FIG. 19exemplifies the operation in the case where the position alignment inthe space direction is carried out at the intervals of a plurality offrames. Incidentally, when the position alignment in the space directionis carried out in the image pickup apparatus 20-2, the image pickupapparatus 20-2 acquires the captured image PG-1 produced in the imagepickup apparatus 20-1, and the shake information indicating the shakestate of the image pickup apparatus 20-1. In addition, the image pickupapparatus 20-2 executes processing for aligning the position of theimage produced in the image pickup apparatus 20-1 with the imageproduction area AP-2 after the image stabilization. In addition, in theposition alignment in the space direction between the images, asdescribed above, the position adjustment vector is calculated by usinghe captured images PG-1 and PG-2.

In the frame 0 of FIG. 18, the vector for correcting the shake generatedin the captured image PG-2 is set as an image stabilization vector VR0.In addition, for making the image in the image production area AP-1 tobe connected to the image production area AP-2 continuous with the imagein the image production area AP-2, the vector with which the positionsof the object agree with each other is set as a position adjustmentvector Q0. In this case, the image production area AP-2 can be set insuch a way that the shake is prevented from being generated by using theimage stabilization vector VR0. In addition, the image production areaAP-1 to be connected to the image production area AP-2 can be set byusing the position adjustment vector Q0. That is to say, even when theimage stabilization vector VL0 is not used, a synthetic vector VM0 whichis calculated by using the image stabilization vector VR0 and theposition adjustment vector Q0 is used as depicted in FIG. 18, therebyenabling the image production area AP-1 to be set in such a way that theshake is prevented from being generated and the positions of the objectagree with each other. It should be noted that when the image productionareas AP-1 and AP-2 are connected to each other by, for example, usingan alpha blending technique or the like, the image production area AP-1is set so as to have the overlapping area in which the object in theimage production area AP-1 and the object in the image production areaAP-2 agree with each other.

Next, in the frame 1, a vector for correcting the shake generatedbetween the frame 0 and the frame 1 in the captured image PG-2 is set asan image stabilization vector VR1. In addition, a vector for making theimage in the image production area AP-1 to be connected to the imageproduction area AP-2 continuous with the image in the image productionarea AP-2 is set as a position adjustment vector Q1. In this case,similarly to the case of the frame 0, even when the image stabilizationvector VL1 is not used, a synthetic vector VM1 which is calculated byusing the image stabilization vector VR1 and the position adjustmentvector Q1 is used, whereby the image production area AP-1 can be set insuch a way that the shake is prevented from being generated between theframe 0 and the frame 1 of the captured image PG-1, and the positionalignment of the object can be carried out in the connection portionbetween the image production area AP-1 and the image production areaAP-2. In addition, in the frame 2 to the frame 4 as well, similarly tothe case of the frames 0 and 1, the image production area AP-1 can beset in such a way that the shake is prevented from being generated andthe position alignment of the object can be carried out.

In the frame 0 of FIG. 19, a vector for correcting the shake generatedin the captured image PG-2 is set as an image stabilization vector VR0.In addition, a vector for making the image in the image production areaAP-1 to be connected to the image production area AP-2 continuous withthe image in the image production area AP-2 is set as a positionadjustment vector Q0. In this case, the image production area AP-2 canbe set in such a way that the shake is prevented from being generated byusing the image stabilization vector VR0. In addition, the imageproduction area AP-1 to be connected to the image production area AP-2can be set by using the position adjustment vector Q0. That is to say, asynthetic vector which is calculated by using the image stabilizationvector VR0 and the position adjustment vector Q0 is used, therebyenabling the image production area AP-1 to be set in such a way that theshake is prevented from being generated and the positions of the objectagree with each other. For example, when the frame 0 represents that inthe first image, each of the image stabilization vectors VL0 and VR0 is(0, 0), and the positions of the object OB are (a) and (b) of FIG. 17, asynthetic vector VM0 with which the image production area AP-1 is set insuch a way that the shake is prevented from being generated and theposition of the object agrees with the image in the image productionarea AP-2 is expressed by Expression (1). It should be noted that inFIG. 17, the image stabilization vector VR0 is (0, 0), and the positionadjustment vector Q0 is (−1680, 0).VM0=−VR0+Q0=−(0,0)+(−1680,0)=(−1680,0)  (1)

Next, in the frame 1, a vector for correcting the shake generated in thecaptured image PG-2 is set as an image stabilization vector VR1. On theother hand, in the frame 1, a vector for correcting the shake generatedin the captured image PG-1 is set as an image stabilization vector VL1.In addition, in the frame 1, no position adjustment vector iscalculated. Therefore, the image stabilization vector in the capturedimage PG-1 is calculated in the frame 0, as the nearest frame in whichthe position adjustment vector is calculated, as the reference. Here,the image stabilization vector VR1 for correcting the shake generated inthe captured image PG-1 is the vector with the frame 0 as the reference.In addition, the image production area AP-1 set in the frame 0corresponds to the position where the image stabilization is carried outwith the image stabilization vector VL0. Therefore, in the frame 1, theposition of the image production area AP-1 which is set in such a waythat the shake is prevented from being generated and the positions ofthe object agree with each other becomes the position where the imageproduction area AP-1 of the frame 0 is moved by VL1 (the image pickupapparatus 20-1 is relatively moved between the frame 0 and the frame 1through the image stabilization by this amount of movement). That is tosay, the synthetic vector calculated by using the image stabilizationvectors VR0 and VR1, the position adjustment vector Q0, and the imagestabilization vector VL1 is used, whereby the image production area AP-1can be set in such a way that the shake is prevented from beinggenerated, and the positions of the object agree with each other.

For example, in the case of FIG. 17 described above, for the capturedimage PG-2 f 1 of the frame 1 depicted in (g) of FIG. 17, as depicted in(h) of FIG. 17, the position alignment in the time direction is carriedout. In addition, for the captured image PG-1 f 1 of the frame 1depicted in (d) of FIG. 17, from the position for the position alignmentin the space direction of the frame 0, as depicted in (f) of FIG. 17,the position alignment in the time direction is carried out. If theposition alignment is carried out in such a way, then, the imageproduction area AP-1 can be set in such a way that the shake isprevented from being generated and the position of the object in theimage production area AP-1 agrees with the position of the object in theimage production area AP-2. Here, the captured image PG-1 f 1 depictedin (f) of FIG. 17 is located in the position obtained through themovement by the synthetic vector VM1 with respect to the captured imagePG-2 f 1 in (h) of FIG. 17. The synthetic vector VM1 has a value ofExpression (2). It should be noted that the position adjustment vectorQ0 depicted in FIG. 19 is (−1680, 0) in the case of FIG. 17. Inaddition, with regard to the image stabilization vectors VR1 and VL1depicted in FIG. 19, in the case of FIG. 17, the image stabilizationvector VR1 is (0, 60), and the image stabilization vector VL1 is (0,100).

$\begin{matrix}\begin{matrix}{{{VM}\; 1} = {{- \left( {{{VR}\; 1} + {{VR}\; 0}} \right)} + {Q\; 0} + {{VL}\; 1}}} \\{= {{- \left( {\left( {0,60} \right) + \left( {0,0} \right)} \right)} + \left( {{- 1680},0} \right) + \left( {0,100} \right)}} \\{= \left( {{- 1680},40} \right)}\end{matrix} & (2)\end{matrix}$

Therefore, if the position obtained through the movement by thesynthetic vector VM1 with respect to the captured image PG-2 f 1 of theframe 1 is set as the position of the captured image PG-1 f 1, then, theimage production area AP-1 can be set in such a way that the shake isprevented from being generated and the positions of the object agreewith each other. That is to say, the images in the image production areaAP-1 and the image production area AP-2 become the images in which thecorrection is carried out so as to prevent the shake from beinggenerated and the positions of the object agree with each other.

In addition, in the frame 2, a vector for correcting the shake generatedin the captured image PG-2 is set as an image stabilization vector VR2.The correction vector VL2 is the vector with the frame 1 as thereference. On the other hand, in the frame 2, a vector for correctingthe shake generated in the captured image PG-1 is set as an imagestabilization vector VL2. In addition, in the frame 2, no positionadjustment vector is calculated. Therefore, the image stabilizationvector in the captured image PG-1 is calculated using the nearest framein which the position adjustment vector is calculated as the reference.Here, the image stabilization vector VL2 for correcting the shakegenerated in the captured image PG-1 is the vector with the frame 1 asthe reference. In addition, the image production area AP-1 set in theframe 1 corresponds to the position where the image stabilization iscarried out with the image stabilization vector VL1. Therefore, in theframe 2, the position of the image production area AP-1 which is set insuch a way that the shake is prevented from being generated and thepositions of the object agree with each other becomes the position wherethe image production area AP-1 of the frame 0 is moved by (VL2+VL1).Likewise, the image production area AP2 of the frame 2 is located in theposition obtained through the movement of the image production area AP2of the frame 0 by (VR2+VR1). That is to say, the synthetic vector VM2obtained by carrying out the arithmetic operation of Expression (3) byusing the image stabilization vectors VR0, VR1, and VR2, the positionadjustment vector Q0, and the image stabilization vectors VL1 and VL2 isused, thereby enabling the image production area AP-1 to be set in sucha way that the shake is prevented from being generated and the positionsof the object agree with each other.VM2=−(VR2+VR1+VR0)+Q0+(VL2+VL1)  (3)

In the frame 3, a vector for correcting the shake generated in thecaptured image PG-2 is set as an image stabilization vector VR3. Inaddition, a vector for making the image in the image production areaAP-1 to be connected to the image production area AP-2 continuous withthe image in the image production area AP-2 is set as a positionadjustment vector Q3. In this case, the image production area AP-2 canbe set in such a way that the shake is prevented from being generated byusing the image stabilization vector VR3. Thus, by using the positionadjustment vector Q3, the image production area AP-1 to be connected tothe image production area AP-2 can be set. That is to say, as indicatedin Expression (4), by using the synthetic vector VM3 calculated by usingthe image stabilization vector VR3 and the position adjustment vectorQ3, the image production area AP-1 can be set in such a way that theshake is prevented from being generated and the positions of the objectagree with each other.VM3=−VR3+Q3  (4)

In addition, in the frame 4, the processing similar to that in the caseof the frame 1 is executed with the frame 3, as the nearest frame inwhich the calculation of the position adjustment vector is carried out,as the reference. That is to say, by using a synthetic vector VM4indicated in Expression (5), the image production area AP-1 can be setin such a way that the shake is prevented from being generated, and thepositions of the object agree with each other.VM4=−(VR4+VR3)+Q3+VL4  (5)

In such a way, by carrying out the position alignment in the spacedirection at the intervals of a plurality of frames, for example, evenif the error generated by the position alignment in the time directionof the frame in which no position alignment in the space direction iscarried out is accumulated with a lapse of time, the errors accumulatedby the position alignment in the space direction can be reset.Therefore, it is possible to prevent the shift or the like of the imageoverlapping due to the accumulation of the error from being generated.

FIG. 20 is a flow chart depicting the operation of the third embodiment.In Step ST31, the image pickup apparatus 20-2 acquires the capturedimage from the other apparatus. The image pickup apparatus 20-2, forexample, acquires the captured image PG-1, in the image capturing areaAR-1, produced in the image pickup apparatus 20-1, and the processingproceeds to Step ST32.

In Step ST32, the image pickup apparatus 20-2 calculates the degree ofthe change in positional relation. The image pickup apparatus 20-2carries out the spatial positional alignment in such a way that in thecaptured image PG-2 produced and the captured image PG-1 acquired fromthe image pickup apparatus 20-1, the images of the same object overlapeach other. In addition, the image pickup apparatus 20-2 judges whetheror not an amount of change in positional relation between the capturedimage PG-2 produced and the captured image PG-1 acquired from the imagepickup apparatus 20-1 exceeds the change judgment threshold value withrespect to the images for M (positive integral number) frames. Then, arate of the number of frames in each of which the amount of changeexceeds the change judgment threshold value is set as the degree of thechange. Moreover, the image pickup apparatus 20-2 calculates the degreeof the change in positional relation at the intervals of N (positiveintegral number) frames. The image pickup apparatus 20-2 calculates thedegree of the change in positional relation in such a manner, and theprocessing proceeds to Step ST33.

In Step ST33, the image pickup apparatus 20-2 controls the frequency ofthe position alignment. The image pickup apparatus 20-2 increases thefrequency of carrying out the position alignment when the degree of thechange in positional relation is large, and reduces the frequency ofcarrying out the position alignment when the degree of the change inpositional relation is small.

In such a manner, according to the third embodiment, the frequency ofthe position alignment in the space direction between the images to besynthesized in the production of the panoramic image is controlled inresponse to the degree of the change in positional relation of thecaptured images between the image pickup apparatuses. Therefore, thestate in which the position alignment of the object can be carried outto connect the images to each other can be efficiently held.

5-2. Other Operation of Third Embodiment

The degree of the change in positional relation described above is by nomeans limited to the case where it is carried out with the observationtime period and the observation interval being fixed, and theobservation time period and the observation interval may be adjusted inresponse to the degree of the change in positional relation. In otheroperation of the third embodiment, a description will be given withrespect to an operation for adjusting the observation time period andthe observation interval in response to the degree of the change inpositional relation.

FIG. 21 is a view depicting an operation for calculating the degree ofthe change in positional relation. For example, at the time of start ofthe operation, as depicted in (a) of FIG. 21, the observation timeperiod of the degree of the change is set as Ma (positive integralnumber) frames, and the observation interval of the degree of the changeis set as Na (positive integral number) frames. After start of theoperation, when the degree of the change in positional relation islarge, at least one of the observation time period and the observationinterval of the degree of the change is shortened. (b) of FIG. 21exemplifies the case where when the degree of the change in positionalrelation is large, the observation time period and the observationinterval of the degree of the change are both shortened. It should benoted that in the observation time period, “Mb<Ma” is established, andin the observation interval, “Nb<Na” is established. In addition, afterstart of the operation, when the degree of the change in positionalrelation is small, at least one of the observation time period and theobservation interval of the degree of the change is lengthened. (c) ofFIG. 21 exemplifies the case where when the degree of the change inpositional relation is small, the observation time period and theobservation interval are both lengthened. It should be noted that in theobservation time period, “Mc>Ma” is established and in the observationinterval, “Nc>Na” is established. The observation time period or theobservation interval may be shortened every one frame as the degree ofthe change, for example, is larger, and is lengthened every one frame asthe degree of the change is smaller.

FIG. 22 is a flow chart depicting other operation of the thirdembodiment. In Step ST41, the image pickup apparatus 20-2 acquires thecaptured image from the other apparatus. The image pickup apparatus20-2, for example, acquires the captured image PG-1, in the imagecapturing area AR-1, produced in the image pickup apparatus 20-1. Then,the processing proceeds to Step ST42.

In Step ST42, the image pickup apparatus 20-2 calculates the degree ofthe change in positional relation. The image pickup apparatus 20-2carries out the spatial position alignment in such a way that in thecaptured image PG-2 produced and the captured image PG-1 acquired fromthe image pickup apparatus 20-1, the images of the same object overlapeach other. In addition, the image pickup apparatus 20-2 judges whetheror not an amount of change in positional relation between the capturedimage PG-2 produced and the captured image PG-1 acquired from the imagepickup apparatus 20-1 exceeds the change judgment threshold value, forexample, with respect to the images for the observation time period.Then, a rate of the number of frames in each of which the amount ofchange exceeds the change judgment threshold value is set as the degreeof the change. In addition, the image pickup apparatus 20-2 calculatesthe degree of the change in positional relation at the intervals of Nframes. The image pickup apparatus 20-2 calculates the degree of thechange in positional relation in this manner, and the processingproceeds to Step ST43.

In Step ST43, the image pickup apparatus 20-2 controls the frequency ofthe position alignment. The image pickup apparatus 20-2 increases thefrequency of carrying out the position alignment when the degree of thechange in positional relation is large, and reduces the frequency ofcarrying out the position alignment when the degree of the change inpositional relation is small. Then, the processing proceeds to StepST44.

In Step ST44, the image pickup apparatus 20-2 updates the observationtime period and the observation interval. The image pickup apparatus20-2 carries out the adjustment in such a way that as the degree of thechange in positional relation is larger, at least one of the observationtime period and the observation interval is shortened. In addition, theimage pickup apparatus 20-2 carries out the adjustment in such a waythat as the degree of the change in positional relation is smaller, atleast one of the observation time period and the observation interval islengthened. The image pickup apparatus 20-2 updates the setting in sucha way that for the observation time period and the observation intervalafter the adjustment, the degree of the change in positional relation iscalculated. Then, the processing proceeds to Step ST45.

In Step ST45, the image pickup apparatus 20-2 transmits the observationtime period and the observation interval after the update. The imagepickup apparatus 20-2 transmits the observation time period and theobservation interval after the update to the image pickup apparatus20-1. Then, the processing proceeds to Step ST46.

In Step ST46, the image pickup apparatus 20-2 judges whether or not theimage capturing is ended. When it is judged that the image capturing isnot yet ended, or when it is judged that the processing for all theframes is not yet completed, the processing in the image pickupapparatus 20-2 returns back to Step ST41. When the image capturing isended or the processing for all the frames is completed, the processingis ended.

In such a manner, according to other operation of the third embodiment,the observation time period and the observation interval for the degreeof the change are adjusted in response to the degree of the change inpositional relation. Therefore, as compared with the case where theobservation time period and the observation interval are fixed, theoptimum control operation can be carried out in response to the degreeof the change in positional relation. It should be noted that althoughin other operation of the third embodiment, the case where theobservation time period and the observation interval are adjusted,alternatively, only one of the observation time period and theobservation interval may be adjusted.

6. Fourth Embodiment

In the case where the panoramic image is produced by using the capturedimages produced in a plurality of image pickup apparatuses, if the imagequality is deteriorated in response to the shake and the plurality ofimage pickup apparatuses are different in amount of shake from oneanother, then, it is feared that the captured images used in theproduction of the panoramic image become the images in which the imagequality difference is caused. Therefore, in the fourth embodiment, adescription will be given with respect to the case where the imageprocessing is executed in such a way that the image quality differenceis inconspicuous at the time of production of the panoramic image.

6-1. Operation of Fourth Embodiment

FIG. 23 is a view depicting a relation between the magnitude of theshake and the image quality of the images used in the production of thepanoramic image.

The image pickup apparatus 20-2 calculates an amount of shake on thebasis of either the captured images, for example, for each frameproduced in the respective image pickup apparatuses or the sensorsignals produced in the sensor portions 211 of the respective imagepickup apparatuses. Here, when an amount of shake is small, as depictedin (a) of FIG. 23, the image production area AP can be widened withrespect to the captured image PG. In addition, as depicted in (b) ofFIG. 23, a central portion in which the lens distortion is small can besegmented. Therefore, when an amount of shake is small, in the image inthe image production area AP used in the production of the panoramicimage, as depicted in (c) of FIG. 23, the image quality can besatisfactorily held.

When an amount of shake is large, as depicted in (d) of FIG. 23, theimage production area AP needs to be narrowed with respect to thecaptured image PG. In addition, as depicted in (e) of FIG. 23, thereoccurs the case where a portion in which the lens distortion is largemust be segmented. Therefore, when an amount of shake is large, in theimage in the image production area AP used in the production of thepanoramic image, as depicted in (f) of FIG. 23, the image quality isdeteriorated in some cases.

For this reason, even if an amount of shake differs among a plurality ofimage pickup apparatuses, and thus the image quality difference occursamong the images used in the production of the panoramic image, thepanoramic image is produced in such a way that the image qualitydifference is inconspicuous.

FIG. 24 is a flow chart depicting the operation of the fourthembodiment. In Step ST51, the image pickup apparatus 20-2 acquires thecaptured image from the other apparatus. The image pickup apparatus20-2, for example, acquires the captured image PG-1, in the imagecapturing area AR-1, produced in the image pickup apparatus 20-1, andthe processing proceeds to Step ST52.

In Step ST52, the image pickup apparatus 20-2 calculates the imagequality difference. The image pickup apparatus 20-2 calculates the imagequality difference between the captured image PG-2 produced and thecaptured image PG-1 acquired from the image pickup apparatus 20-1. Theimage pickup apparatus 20-2 calculates the difference in thehigh-frequency components contained in the captured images, the shakedegree or the like in the form of the image quality difference. Forexample, if the blurring occurs in the captured image, then, thehigh-frequency components are lost. Therefore, when many high-frequencycomponents are contained, the image pickup apparatus 20-2 sets thisimage quality as the high image quality. When the high-frequencycomponents are not contained so much, the image pickup apparatus 20-2sets this image quality as the low image quality. In addition, when theshake degree is large, the blurring due to the shake is large, whilewhen the shake degree is small, the blurring is small. For this reason,the image pickup apparatus 20-2 sets the image quality when the shakedegree is small as the high image quality, and sets the image qualitywhen the shake degree is large as the low image quality. In this way,the image pickup apparatus 20-2 calculates the difference in thehigh-frequency components contained in the captured images, the shakedegree or the like in the form of the image quality difference. Then,the processing proceeds to Step ST53.

In Step ST53, the image pickup apparatus 20-2 executes the synthesisprocessing responding to the image quality difference. The image pickupapparatus 20-2 executes image quality adjusting processing forequalizing the image qualities of the captured image PG-1 and thecaptured image PG-2 on the basis of the calculated image qualitydifference and connects the captured images after the image qualityadjustment to each other, thereby producing the panoramic image. Theimage pickup apparatus 20-2, for example, may execute low-pass filterprocessing or the like for the captured image having the high imagequality, thereby equalizing the image quality to the captured imagehaving the low image quality, or may execute high image qualityprocessing or the like for the captured image having the low imagequality, thereby equalizing the image quality to the captured imagehaving the high image quality. The high-image quality processing, forexample, includes noise removing processing, high-frequency emphasizingprocessing, high-image quality image producing processing by learning,super-resolution processing, and the like. In addition, the image pickupapparatus 20-2 may execute processing for reducing the image quality forthe captured image having the high image quality and processing forincreasing the image quality for the captured image having the low imagequality, thereby equalizing the image qualities of the two capturedimages. In addition, the image pickup apparatus 20-2 may control thesynthesis of the captured image PG-1 and the captured image PG-2 on thebasis of the calculated image quality difference, thereby producing thepanoramic image so that the image quality difference is inconspicuous.When the two captured images are connected to each other by, forexample, using the alpha blending technique, the image pickup apparatus20-2 adjusts a blend width as a width of the areas to be blended inresponse to the image quality difference. Thus, when the image qualitydifference is large, the image pickup apparatus 20-2 widens the blendwidth to connect the captured images to each other so that the imagequality difference is inconspicuous. In addition, the image pickupapparatus 20-2 may adjust a blend rate in response to the image qualitydifference, and may increase the weight for the captured image havingthe high image quality when the image quality difference is large,thereby increasing the blend rate of the captured image having the highimage quality.

According to such a fourth embodiment, even if in the production of thepanoramic image, the image quality difference occurs between thecaptured images to be connected to each other, the synthesis processingis executed in such a way that the difference in the image quality isinconspicuous. Therefore, it is possible to produce the panoramic imagein which the difference in the image quality is inconspicuous.

7. Other Embodiments

Incidentally, in the embodiments described above, there is exemplifiedthe case where the angles of view (an angle representing an imagecapturing area) of the respective image pickup apparatuses are equal toeach other. However, the image pickup apparatuses which are different inangle of view from each other may also be used.

FIG. 25 is a flow chart depicting an operation in the case where theimage pickup apparatuses different in angle of view from each other areused. In Step ST61, the image pickup apparatus 20-2 acquires thecaptured image from the other apparatus. The image pickup apparatus 20-2acquires, for example, the captured image PG-1 in the image capturingarea AR-1 which is produced in the image pickup apparatus 20-1. Then,the processing proceeds to Step ST62.

In Step ST62, the image pickup apparatus 20-2 acquires adjustmentjudgment information. The image pickup apparatus 20-2 acquires theadjustment judgment information indicating the lens distortion and theangle of view of the captured image PG-1 supplied thereto from the imagepickup apparatus 20-1. Here, each of the image pickup apparatusescarries out the calibration in advance so that the adjustment judgmentinformation can be acquired. For example, the image pickup apparatuscaptures the image of a test chart or the like, and acquires the lensdistortion for each focal length in advance to store the lensdistortion. Likewise, each of the image pickup apparatuses calculatesthe angle of view as well for each focal length in advance to store theangle of view. Moreover, the information corresponding to the setting atthe time of the image capturing can be read out from the informationregarding the lens distortion and the angle of view which are stored,thereby enabling the adjustment judgment information to be acquired. Theimage pickup apparatus 20-2 acquires the adjustment judgmentinformation, and the processing proceeds to Step ST63.

In Step ST63, the image pickup apparatus 20-2 carries out the correctionfor the lens distortion of the captured image thus acquired. The imagepickup apparatus 20-2 corrects the lens distortion of the captured imagePG-1 which is acquired from the image pickup apparatus 20-1 in Step ST61on the basis of the adjustment judgment information acquired in StepST62. Then, the processing proceeds to Step ST64.

In Step ST64, the image pickup apparatus 20-2 carries out the correctionfor the lens distortion of the captured image produced. The image pickupapparatus 20-2 corrects the lens distortion of the captured image PG-2produced on the basis of the adjustment judgment information when thecaptured image PG-2 is produced. Then, the processing proceeds to StepST65.

In Step ST65, the image pickup apparatus 20-2 calculates anenlargement/reduction ratio. The image pickup apparatus 20-2 calculatesthe ratio of the angle of view of the captured image PG-1 to the angleof view of the captured image PG-2 in the form of theenlargement/reduction ratio from the information regarding the angle ofview indicated by the adjustment judgment information regarding thecaptured image PG-1 and the information regarding the angle of viewindicated by the adjustment judgment information regarding the capturedimage PG-2. Then, the processing proceeds to Step ST66. It should benoted that the calculation of the enlargement/reduction ratio is by nomeans limited to the case where the adjustment judgment informationacquired is used. For example, a plurality of captured images PG-1having different enlargement/reduction ratios may be prepared, and thecaptured image PG-1 wp in which a sum of absolute values of the errorsamong the pixels in the duplication area with the captured image PG-2 isthe smallest may be identified, thereby determining theenlargement/reduction ratio.

In Step ST66, the image pickup apparatus 20-2 judges whether or not theenlargement/reduction ratio is smaller than 1. When the image pickupapparatus 20-2 judges that the enlargement/reduction ratio is smallerthan 1, that is, the captured image PG-1 is narrower in angle of viewthan the captured image PG-2, and thus the object is enlarged to becaught on, the processing proceeds to Step ST67. In addition, when theimage pickup apparatus 20-2 judges that the enlargement/reduction ratiois not smaller than 1, for example, the captured image PG-1 is wider inangle of view than the captured image PG-2, and thus the object is animage as a small figure, the processing proceeds to Step ST68.

In Step ST67, the image pickup apparatus 20-2 executes processing forenlarging the angle of view of the captured image produced. The imagepickup apparatus 20-2 enlarges the captured image PG-2 produced at arate of (1/(enlargement/reduction ratio)), and equalizes the angles ofview of the captured image PG-1 and the captured image PG-2.

In Step ST68, the image pickup apparatus 20-2 executes angle-of-viewenlargement processing of the captured image acquired. The image pickupapparatus 20-2 enlarges the captured image PG-1 acquired at a rate ofthe enlargement/reduction ratio, thereby equalizing the angles of viewof the captured image PG-1 and the captured image PG-2.

After executing such processing, the image pickup apparatus 20-2produces the panoramic image in the manner as described above.Therefore, even when the image pickup apparatuses different in angle ofview from each other are used, it becomes possible to produce thepanoramic image for which the sizes of the object are equalized and fromwhich the influence of the lens distortion is removed.

In addition, when a plurality of image pickup apparatuses are fixed to arig (mount), for example, when, as depicted in FIG. 26, the image pickupapparatuses 20-1 and 20-2 are mounted to a rig 40, thereby determiningan amount of overlapping of the images, information regarding themounting is produced as the duplication identification information. Inaddition, when a mounting angle of the image pickup apparatus isselectable for the rig, and an amount of overlapping of the images isdetermined in response to the selected mounting angle, informationindicating the mounting angle is produced as the duplicationidentification information. Moreover, when the image pickup apparatus ismounted to the rig, so that the image pickup apparatus is set to apredetermined focal length, thereby determining an amount of overlappingof the images, or when the image pickup apparatus is set to a focallength selected in the rig to which the image pickup apparatus ismounted, thereby determining an amount of overlapping of the images,information indicating the focal length to which the image pickupapparatus is set may be contained in the duplication identificationinformation.

The duplication identification information regarding such mounting maybe produced in any of the rig or the image pickup apparatus. Forexample, a detection portion 41 for detecting the mounting of the imagepickup apparatuses 20-1 and 20-2 is provided in the rig 40. Thedetection portion 41 may use a communication function, or may utilize amechanical connection mechanism. When the communication function isused, a communication with the rig 40 is made through a connectionterminal, a connection cable or the like, thereby detecting themounting. In addition, a short-range wireless communication may be madewith the rig 40, thereby detecting the mounting to the rig 40. Inaddition, when the mechanical connection mechanism is used, the mountingis detected on the basis of a manipulation position or the like of amanipulation lever which is manipulated when the image pickup apparatusis fixed. Incidentally, for detection of the mounting, not only themounting of the image pickup apparatus to the rig, but also thedetection of the mounting angle or the focal length, or the like may becarried out. The rig 40 transmits the duplication identificationinformation to the image pickup apparatus 20-2 using the communicationfunction.

When the image pickup apparatuses are mounted to the rig in such a way,thereby producing the duplication identification information, even if noimage capturing operation is carried out, the judgment of an amount ofoverlapping of the images can be carried out. Therefore, for example, inthe operation depicted in FIG. 8, the pieces of processing from Step ST1to Step ST3 may be executed in advance by using the duplicationidentification information regarding the mounting instead of using thecaptured image from the other apparatus, and the processing in Step ST5or Step ST6 may be executed by using the judgment result in Step ST3which is obtained in advance.

In addition, when a plurality of image pickup apparatuses are fixed tothe rig, the positional relation between the image pickup apparatuses20-1 and 20-2 is small in change. Therefore, in such a case, it ispossible to prevent the position alignment from being unnecessarilycarried out in such a way that the frequency of the position alignmentis reduced and the observation time period or the observation intervalof the degree of the change in positional relation is lengthened.

Moreover, the image stabilization is by no means limited to the case ofthe electronic image stabilization for adjusting the position of theimage production area in response to the shake, and may be optical imagestabilization. For example, when an image sensor shift system is used asthe optical image stabilization, since the image sensor shift system isa system for moving a position of the image sensor in response to theshake, the processing similar to that in the case where the imageproduction area is moved can be executed. In addition, for example, whena lens shift system is used as the optical image stabilization, thereare provided a lens for adjusting focus and a lens for imagestabilization. In the lens shift system, for the purpose of correctingthe shake, a position of an optical axis passes through end portionsides of the lens for adjusting the focus and the lens for the imagestabilization in some cases, and thus the lens distortion of thecaptured image becomes large depending on the position of the opticalaxis. In addition, in the case as well of the image sensor shift system,if the image sensor is moved to a position away from the optical axis,then, the lens distortion becomes large. In such cases, by applying thefourth embodiment described above, the panoramic image in which theimage quality difference is small can be produced.

In addition, in each of the embodiments described above, although in thedescription of the flow chart depicting the operation, the image pickupsystem 10 adopts the configuration depicted in (b) of FIG. 1,alternatively, the image pickup system 10 may adopt any of theconfigurations depicted in (c) to (f) of FIG. 1. In this case, it isonly necessary that the image pickup apparatus or the informationprocessing apparatus having the function capable of executing theprocessing in Steps executes the processing in Steps in order of Steps.For example, when the image pickup system 10 adopts the configurationdepicted in (c) of FIG. 1, the pieces of processing such as followingare executed: an external apparatus calculates an amount of overlapping,an external apparatus limits the image stabilization for the imagepickup apparatus, and an external apparatus produces the panoramicimage, on the basis of the panoramic information produced in the imagepickup apparatus. In addition, when the image pickup system 10 adoptsthe configuration depicted in (d) of FIG. 1, the pieces of processingsuch as following may be executed: the information processing apparatuscalculates an amount of overlapping, limits the image stabilization forthe image pickup apparatus, and produces the panoramic image.

In addition, although in each of the embodiments described above, thedescription is given with respect to the case where the image pickupapparatus 20-2 carries out the control for the image stabilization andthe production of the panoramic image, as described above,alternatively, the information processing apparatus 50 may carry out thecontrol for the image stabilization, the production of the panoramicimage, and the like.

Moreover, this technique can be widely utilized in the field or the likewhich requires an image having a wide angle of view under theenvironment in which the shake of the image pickup portion is generated.For example, if the image pickup apparatuses are mounted to a vehicle,then, even when vibrations are applied to the image pickup apparatusesduring the traveling, the satisfactory panoramic image can be produced,and thus the situations of the circumstances can be confirmed during thedriving. In addition, even when automatic driving or the like is carriedout, the situations of the circumstances can be acquired. In addition,if the image pickup apparatuses are mounted to construction machinery,agriculture machinery or the like, then, even when the vibration or thelike is applied to the image pickup apparatuses during a work, thesatisfactory panoramic image can be produced. Therefore, the work can beproperly carried out while the situations of the circumstances areconfirmed.

The series of processing described above in the description can beexecuted by hardware, or software, or a composite configuration of bothof them. When the processing by the software is executed, a program inwhich a processing sequence is recorded is installed in a memory withina computer incorporated in the dedicated hardware in order to executethe program. Alternatively, a program can be installed in ageneral-purpose computer which can execute various kinds of processingin order to execute the program.

For example, a program can be recorded in a hard disc, an SSD (SolidState Drive) or a ROM (Read Only Memory) as a recording medium inadvance. Alternatively, a program can be temporarily or permanentlystored (recorded) in a removable recording medium such as a flexibledisc, a CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory), an MO (Magneto optical)disc, a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), a BD (Blu-Ray Disc (registeredtrademark)), a magnetic disc, or a semiconductor memory card. Such aremovable recording medium can be presented as the so-called packagesoftware.

In addition, a program may be installed from a removal recording mediumin a computer, and in addition thereto, may be transferred to a computerin a wireless or wired manner from a download site through a networksuch as a LAN (Local Area Network) or the Internet. The computer canreceive a program transferred thereto in such a manner, and can installin a recording medium such as a hard disc built therein.

It should be noted that the effects described in the present descriptionare merely the exemplifications, and are by no means limited andadditional effects, not described herein, may be offered. In addition,the present technique should not be interpreted in a limiting sense. Inthe embodiments of the present technique, the present technique isdisclosed in the form of the exemplifications, and it is obvious that aperson skilled in the art can make modifications and substitutions ofthe embodiments without departing from the subject matter of the presenttechnique. That is to say, for judging the subject matter of the presenttechnique, claims should be taken into consideration.

In addition, the image processing apparatus of the present technique canalso adopt the following constitutions.

(1) An image processing apparatus, including:

a control portion configured to carry out control about imagestabilization for at least one of a first captured image and a secondcaptured image, which are used in production of a panoramic image, inresponse to a positional relation between the first captured image andthe second captured image.

(2) The image processing apparatus according to (1), in which thecontrol portion limits the image stabilization in response to thepositional relation as the control about the image stabilization.

(3) The image processing apparatus according to (2), in which thepositional relation is an amount of overlapping.

(4) The image processing apparatus according to (3), in which thecontrol portion limits the image stabilization when the amount ofoverlapping is equal to or smaller than an image stabilizationlimitation threshold value.

(5) The image processing apparatus according to (3) or (4), in which thecontrol portion limits the image stabilization in such a way that animage production area provided within a valid pixel area of an imagesensor is widened as the amount of overlapping becomes smaller.

(6) The image processing apparatus according to (2), in which thecontrol portion stops the image stabilization as the limitation aboutthe image stabilization.

(7) The image processing apparatus according to any one of (2) to (5),further including:

a notification processing portion configured to carry out a notificationfor a user,

in which the control portion carries out a notification about setting ofthe image stabilization through the notification processing portion asthe limitation about the image stabilization.

(8) The image processing apparatus according to (3), in which thecontrol portion carries out the control in order of execution ofposition alignment between an image production area of the firstcaptured image and an image production area of the second captured imageand execution of the image stabilization when the amount of overlappingis equal to or smaller than a processing order setting threshold value,and carries out the control in order of the execution of the imagestabilization and the execution of the position alignment when theamount of overlapping is larger than the processing order settingthreshold value.

(9) The image processing apparatus according to any one of (1) to (8),in which the control portion carries out position alignment between thefirst captured image and the second captured image in response to adegree of a change in the positional relation between the first capturedimage and the second captured image.

(10) The image processing apparatus according to (9), in which thecontrol portion controls an observation time period or an observationinterval of the degree of the change in response to the degree of thechange.

(11) The image processing apparatus according to (10), in which thecontrol portion shortens the observation time period or the observationinterval as the degree of the change becomes larger, and lengthens theobservation time period or the observation interval as the degree of thechange becomes smaller.

(12) The image processing apparatus according to (9), in which afrequency of the position alignment is controlled in response to amounting state of a first image pickup portion configured to produce thefirst captured image and a second image pickup portion configured toproduce the second captured image.

(13) The image processing apparatus according to any one of (1) to (12),further including:

a panoramic image producing portion configured to produce a panoramicimage from an image production area of the first captured image and animage production area of the second captured image.

(14) The image processing apparatus according to (13), in which thepanoramic image producing portion produces the panoramic image after animage quality difference between the image production area of the firstcaptured image and the image production area of the second capturedimage is adjusted.

(15) The image processing apparatus according to (13) or (14), in whichthe panoramic image producing portion synthesizes the image productionarea of the first captured image in which lens distortion is correctedand the image production area of the second captured image in which thelens distortion is corrected.

(16) The image processing apparatus according to any one of (13) to(15), in which the panoramic image producing portion produces thepanoramic image after an angle of view of the first captured image andan angle of view of the second captured image are equalized.

Moreover, the image processing apparatus of the present technique canalso adopt the following constitutions.

An image processing apparatus including a control portion configured tocarry out control about an image stabilization function of at least oneof an image pickup apparatus configured to produce a first capturedimage and a second image pickup apparatus configured to produce a secondcaptured image in response to a difference in shake between the firstimage pickup apparatus and the second pickup apparatus as control aboutproduction of the first captured image and the second captured image inorder to produce a panoramic image by processing for synthesizing thefirst and second captured images.

An image processing apparatus including a control portion configured tocontrol an image stabilization function of at least one of a first imagepickup apparatus and a second image pickup apparatus in response to adifference in shake between the first and second image pickupapparatuses as control about production of a first captured image in thefirst image pickup apparatus used in production of a panoramic image,and production of a second captured image in the second image pickupapparatus used in production of the panoramic image.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

In an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, a program,and an image pickup system of this technique, control about imagestabilization for at least one of a first captured image and a secondcaptured image which are used in production of a panoramic image iscarried out in response to a positional relation between the firstcaptured image and the second captured image. For this reason, by thecontrol about the image stabilization responding to the positionalrelation between the first captured image and the second captured image,areas in which the captured images of the same object overlap each othercan be ensured in the first captured image and the second capturedimage. Thus, the images used in the production of the panoramic imagecan be readily produced. Therefore, this technique can be widelyutilized to the field or the like which requires an image having a wideangle of view under an environment in which shake of an image pickupportion is generated.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

-   10 . . . Image pickup system-   20, 20-1 to 20-8 . . . Image pickup apparatus-   30 . . . Recording medium-   40 . . . Rig-   41 . . . Mounting state detecting portion-   50, 50-1, 50-2 . . . Information processing apparatus-   200 . . . Lens unit-   201 . . . Drive portion-   202 . . . Image sensor portion-   203 . . . AFE portion-   204 . . . Image processing portion-   205 . . . Display portion-   206 . . . Voice input/output portion-   207, 503 . . . Communication portion-   208 . . . Recording medium processing portion-   209, 506 . . . Bus-   211 . . . Sensor portion-   212 . . . User interface portion-   220, 505 . . . Control portion-   501 . . . Input portion-   502 . . . Output portion-   504 . . . Storage portion

The invention claimed is:
 1. An image processing apparatus, comprising:a controller configured to control at least one of a first imagestabilizer or a second image stabilizer, the first image stabilizercorresponding to a first captured image, the second image stabilizercorresponding to a second captured image, in response to a positionalrelation between the first captured image and the second captured image,wherein the first captured image is produced by a first image pickup andthe second captured image is produced by a second image pickup, thefirst image stabilizer is configured to execute a first imagestabilization on the first captured image and the second imagestabilizer is configured to execute a second image stabilization on thesecond captured image, the first captured image and the second capturedimage are used in production of a panoramic image in correspondence withthe control of the at least one of the first image stabilizer or thesecond image stabilizer, the controller is configured to limit at leastone of the first image stabilization or the second image stabilizationin response to the positional relation as the control, the positionalrelation is an amount of overlapping, and the controller is configuredto limit at least one of the first image stabilization or the secondimage stabilization when the amount of overlapping is equal to orsmaller than an image stabilization limitation threshold value.
 2. Theimage processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controlleris configured to limit at least one of the first image stabilization orthe second image stabilization in such a way that an image productionarea provided within a valid pixel area of an image sensor is widened asthe amount of overlapping becomes smaller.
 3. The image processingapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured tostop at least one of the first image stabilization or the second imagestabilization as the control.
 4. The image processing apparatusaccording to claim 1, further comprising: a notification processingportion configured to carry out a notification for a user, wherein thecontroller is configured to carry out a notification about setting of atleast one of the first image stabilization or the second imagestabilization through the notification processing portion.
 5. The imageprocessing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller isconfigured to carry out the control in order of execution of positionalignment between an image production area of the first captured imageand an image production area of the second captured image and executionof at least one of the first image stabilization or the second imagestabilization when the amount of overlapping is equal to or smaller thana processing order setting threshold value, and carries out the controlin order of the execution of at least one of the first imagestabilization or the second image stabilization and the execution of theposition alignment when the amount of overlapping is larger than theprocessing order setting threshold value.
 6. The image processingapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured tocarry out position alignment between an image production area of thefirst captured image and an image production area of the second capturedimage in response to a degree of a change in the positional relationbetween the first captured image and the second captured image.
 7. Theimage processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the controlleris configured to control an observation time period or an observationinterval of the degree of the change in response to the degree of thechange.
 8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 7, whereinthe controller is configured to shorten the observation time period orthe observation interval as the degree of the change becomes larger, andlengthen the observation time period or the observation interval as thedegree of the change becomes smaller.
 9. The image processing apparatusaccording to claim 6, wherein a frequency of the position alignment iscontrolled in response to a mounting state of the first image pickup andthe second image pickup.
 10. The image processing apparatus according toclaim 1, further comprising: a panoramic image producing portionconfigured to produce the panoramic image from an image production areaof the first captured image, and an image production area of the secondcaptured image.
 11. The image processing apparatus according to claim10, wherein the panoramic image producing portion produces the panoramicimage after an image quality difference between the image productionarea of the first captured image and the image production area of thesecond captured image is adjusted.
 12. The image processing apparatusaccording to claim 10, wherein the panoramic image producing portionsynthesizes the image production area of the first captured image inwhich lens distortion is corrected and the image production area of thesecond captured image in which the lens distortion is corrected.
 13. Theimage processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the panoramicimage producing portion produces the panoramic image after an angle ofview of the first captured image and an angle of view of the secondcaptured image are equalized.
 14. An image processing method,comprising: controlling at least one of a first image stabilizercorresponding to a first captured image or a second image stabilizercorresponding to a second captured image, in response to a positionalrelation between the first captured image and the second captured image,wherein the first captured image is produced by a first image pickupportion and the second captured image is produced by a second imagepickup portion, the first image stabilizer is configured to execute afirst image stabilization on the first captured image and the secondimage stabilizer is configured to execute a second image stabilizationon the second captured image, and the first captured image and thesecond captured image are used in production of a panoramic image incorrespondence with controlling the at least one of the first imagestabilizer or the second image stabilizer, wherein the controllinglimits at least one of the first image stabilization or the second imagestabilization in response to the positional relation as the control, thepositional relation is an amount of overlapping, and the controllinglimits at least one of the first image stabilization or the second imagestabilization when the amount of overlapping is equal to or smaller thanan image stabilization limitation threshold value.
 15. A non-transitorycomputer readable medium storing a program executable by a computer toperform operations comprising: controlling at least one of a first imagestabilizer corresponding to a first captured image or a second imagestabilizer corresponding to a second captured image, in response to apositional relation between the first captured image and the secondcaptured image, wherein the first captured image is produced by a firstimage pickup and the second captured image is produced by a second imagepickup, the first image stabilizer is configured to execute a firstimage stabilization on the first captured image and the second imagestabilizer is configured to execute a second image stabilization on thesecond captured image, and the first captured image and the secondcaptured image are used in production of a panoramic image incorrespondence with controlling the at least one of the first imagestabilizer or the second image stabilizer, wherein the controllinglimits at least one of the first image stabilization or the second imagestabilization in response to the positional relation as the control, thepositional relation is an amount of overlapping, and the controllinglimits at least one of the first image stabilization or the second imagestabilization when the amount of overlapping is equal to or smaller thanan image stabilization limitation threshold value.
 16. An image pickupsystem, comprising: a first image pickup configured to produce a firstcaptured image to be used in production of a panoramic image; a secondimage pickup configured to produce a second captured image to be used inproduction of the panoramic image; a first image stabilizer configuredto execute a first image stabilization on the first captured image; asecond image stabilizer configured to execute a second imagestabilization on the second captured image; and a controller configuredto control of at least one of the first image stabilizer or the secondimage stabilizer in response to a positional relation between the firstcaptured image and the second captured image, wherein the controller isconfigured to limit at least one of the first image stabilization or thesecond image stabilization in response to the positional relation as thecontrol, the positional relation is an amount of overlapping, and thecontroller is configured to limit at least one of the first imagestabilization or the second image stabilization when the amount ofoverlapping is equal to or smaller than an image stabilizationlimitation threshold value.
 17. The image processing apparatus accordingto claim 1, wherein the first image pickup and the second image pickupcapture the first captured image and the second captured image inparallel.
 18. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the first image pickup and the second image pickup capture thefirst captured image and the second captured image simultaneously. 19.The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein thecontroller is configured to limit at least one of the first imagestabilization or the second image stabilization such that the firstcaptured image and the second captured image include a same object usedfor determining the positional relation.